Using the nexus approach to realise sustainable food systems

Abstract

Food systems are intricate and diverse and face unprecedented challenges owing to rising food demand and resource competition. Recent studies have highlighted that the nexus approach can unveil synergies and trade-offs among sectors, making it useful for sustainable food system studies. Our study reviews the nexus research, addresses knowledge gaps and critiques and explores innovations in nexus concepts from 2020 to 2022. Many studies have overlooked resource-intensive food processing and consumption phases while neglecting inter-regional interactions. Few studies have considered the interlinks between socioeconomic, resource and eco-environmental indicators, hindering the comprehensive and accurate quantification of the impacts of food systems on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We emphasise the need for a comprehensive framework that embraces multi-sector, multi-scale and multi-regional perspectives, covers a series of indicators of resource use efficiency and depletion, environmental pollution and protection and socioeconomic development and achieves a sustainable food system and the achievement of SDGs.