Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-15DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01365-6
Cai Li, Michalis Hadjikakou, Zhongci Deng, Zhen Wang, Zhihua Shi, Brett A. Bryan
{"title":"Global reallocation of rainfed crops can boost production and reduce climate risk","authors":"Cai Li, Michalis Hadjikakou, Zhongci Deng, Zhen Wang, Zhihua Shi, Brett A. Bryan","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01365-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01365-6","url":null,"abstract":"The global food system faces escalating risks to the production of major rainfed agricultural crops. Here we used modern portfolio theory to explore Pareto-optimal spatial arrangements of global rainfed cropping that explicitly account for trade-offs between total crop production and its interannual variability (risk). We analysed production/risk trade-offs under recent historical climate and yields for 2010, as well as under business-as-usual (RCP 6.0) and ambitious mitigation (RCP 2.6) climate futures for 2050. We found that optimizing the spatial distribution of rainfed crops could increase global production by 10.1% while maintaining the same level of risk as in 2010 or, alternatively, reduce production variability by 33.1% while maintaining the same level of production level as in 2010, all without additional land or water. Optimal global rainfed cropping patterns could meet future food demand with enhanced resilience under increased climate variability but only with yield-gap closure and more open and globalized trade, highlighting the need for coordinated production strategies, strengthened trade cooperation and sustainable intensification within climate adaptation policy. Spatial optimization can reduce production risk and improve output without expanding land or irrigation, but meeting future demand will require a combined strategy of global crop redistribution, yield-gap closure and stronger trade cooperation.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"577-588"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-12DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01376-3
Jeda Palmer, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Mario Herrero
{"title":"Climate-smart composting strategies","authors":"Jeda Palmer, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Mario Herrero","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01376-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01376-3","url":null,"abstract":"A machine-learning approach enables the development of best management strategies to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions from composting, offering an opportunity for composting to become a carbon sink rather than a net emitter.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"497-498"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148240836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-12DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01367-4
Will J. Brownlie, Mark A. Sutton, Sergio S. Bazán, James J. Elser, Adelaide Assante, Bryan M. Spears
{"title":"National phosphorus action to meet the United Nations call","authors":"Will J. Brownlie, Mark A. Sutton, Sergio S. Bazán, James J. Elser, Adelaide Assante, Bryan M. Spears","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01367-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01367-4","url":null,"abstract":"Phosphorus mismanagement threatens food security, water quality, climate and biodiversity. This Comment outlines how countries may establish national working groups and action plans to tackle these challenges, considering context-specificities, local resilience and global commitments.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"490-493"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148240864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-08DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01370-9
Zhaoshuo Yu, Ting Lu, Zhiyi Yin, Yu Cao, Faisal Fahad Bin Sunaid, Patrick Wall
{"title":"Reframing halal for global consumers","authors":"Zhaoshuo Yu, Ting Lu, Zhiyi Yin, Yu Cao, Faisal Fahad Bin Sunaid, Patrick Wall","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01370-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01370-9","url":null,"abstract":"Saudi Arabia is seeking to reposition halal from a label focused on religious permissibility to a broader trust mark that explicitly encompasses food safety, quality and nutrition. This matters because halal markets are expanding globally and because, in many non-Muslim settings, ‘halal’ is still reduced in public discourse to slaughter practices rather than understood as a holistic system of standards.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"494-496"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148207458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-03DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01361-w
Lu Zhang, Junyu Yang, Junjie Liu, Qishun Zhou, Xuan Wang, Haodi Zhang, Yazhan Ren, Zhaohai Bai, Lin Ma
{"title":"Machine learning-optimized composting strategies can enhance nutrient recycling and transform food system waste into a net carbon sink","authors":"Lu Zhang, Junyu Yang, Junjie Liu, Qishun Zhou, Xuan Wang, Haodi Zhang, Yazhan Ren, Zhaohai Bai, Lin Ma","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01361-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01361-w","url":null,"abstract":"Composting organic waste offers a circular solution to recycle nutrients and restore soil health, but nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) losses during the process undermine its agricultural and climate benefits. Here, using a machine learning approach, we analyse 848 global manure, food waste and sewage sludge composting experiments, identifying 19 key management parameters that drive ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. We estimate annual global losses during the composting process at 747 kt NH3-N, 81 kt N2O-N and 592 kt CH4-C, equivalent to ~61 MtCO2e yr−1. By optimizing organic waste processing strategies, such as adjusting aeration, additives and C/N ratios, the composting chain could transition from a net emitter (40.1 MtCO2e) to a C sink (−15.1 MtCO2e), while conserving nutrients for crops. Under an optimal reduction scenario, China, Brazil and the United States emerge as the top three C sinks for composting, collectively accounting for 65% of total emission reductions. Organic waste mismanagement can degrade soils and increase pollution. A machine learning approach using data from 848 global composting experiments reveals 19 key management parameters and strategies to transform composting from a net emitter to a carbon sink.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"601-612"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-03DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01377-2
{"title":"People without clean drinking water face increased food insecurity and food safety threats","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01377-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01377-2","url":null,"abstract":"Across 121 countries, survey respondents without clean drinking water were more likely to report lacking food and experiencing threats to food safety. This pattern was consistent across all country‑income levels. Because of these interlinkages, water insecurity, food insecurity and food safety threats should be addressed through coordinated efforts instead of separate approaches.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"503-504"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01363-8
Wändi Bruine de Bruin, Joshua Inwald, Rachael McDonnell, Sera L. Young, Kayla de la Haye
{"title":"A lack of clean drinking water is associated with lacking food and experiencing food safety threats in 121 countries across the globe","authors":"Wändi Bruine de Bruin, Joshua Inwald, Rachael McDonnell, Sera L. Young, Kayla de la Haye","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01363-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01363-8","url":null,"abstract":"Evidence for the co-occurrence of lacking food and clean drinking water is largely missing for high-income countries and has overlooked water’s importance for food safety. Here we examined how lacking food and food safety covaried with lacking clean drinking water, using World Risk Poll data from 121 countries across country-income levels (N = 124,003). Lacking food for more than a day in the past year was associated with lacking clean drinking water for more than a day in the past year. Participants who lacked both food and clean water, or either alone (versus neither) were more likely to experience food safety threats and be concerned about food safety. Relationships held across country-income levels. Low-income countries (especially in Eastern Africa) and high-income countries (especially in Northern America) showed compounded effects of lacking food and clean drinking water on food safety. Worldwide, food insecurity, food safety and water insecurity should be addressed jointly. Food preparation typically requires access to clean drinking water. This Analysis of data from the World Risk Poll explores the links between food sufficiency, clean drinking water availability and their impact on food safety threats across low-, middle- and high-income regions.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"613-620"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-06-01DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01360-x
Jørgen E. Olesen, Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters, Sophie Nicklaus, Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, Martha Bakker, Céline Bonnet, Hilke Bos-Brouwers, Lionel Bretillon, Henrik Brinch-Pedersen, Jeroen J. L. Candel, Tommy Dalgaard, Cécile Detang-Dessendre, Jørgen Eriksen, Edith J. M. Feskens, Agustín González Gaviola, Atze Jan van der Goot, Niels Halberg, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Marie Trydeman Knudsen, Per Kudsk, Miranda P. M. Meuwissen, Thomas Nesme, Stacy C. Pyett, Catherine M. G. C. Renard, Ruerd Ruben, Rogier P. O. Schulte, Antonius G. T. Schut, Louis-Georges Soler, Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, Stéphane Turolla, Hugo de Vries, Sigrid C. O. Wertheim-Heck, Jette F. Young
{"title":"Principles for guiding and unlocking transformation of the European Union agrifood system","authors":"Jørgen E. Olesen, Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters, Sophie Nicklaus, Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, Martha Bakker, Céline Bonnet, Hilke Bos-Brouwers, Lionel Bretillon, Henrik Brinch-Pedersen, Jeroen J. L. Candel, Tommy Dalgaard, Cécile Detang-Dessendre, Jørgen Eriksen, Edith J. M. Feskens, Agustín González Gaviola, Atze Jan van der Goot, Niels Halberg, Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot, Marie Trydeman Knudsen, Per Kudsk, Miranda P. M. Meuwissen, Thomas Nesme, Stacy C. Pyett, Catherine M. G. C. Renard, Ruerd Ruben, Rogier P. O. Schulte, Antonius G. T. Schut, Louis-Georges Soler, Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, Stéphane Turolla, Hugo de Vries, Sigrid C. O. Wertheim-Heck, Jette F. Young","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01360-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01360-x","url":null,"abstract":"European agrifood systems face many challenges and dilemmas regarding sustainability, resilience and competitiveness. Through consultations with scientific experts, we identified five systemic lock-ins (governance and policy fragmentation; behavioural and dietary challenges; political economy and market dynamics; unaccountability and environmental degradation; disruption and unpredictability as the new norm) hindering agrifood systems transformation. Based on concrete examples, we propose five guiding principles that, in various combinations, can help address lock-ins and guide effective changes towards more healthy and sustainable food systems. Their successful implementation requires strong, experience-inspired, science-based political and business leadership supported by a revised research and innovation agenda. European agrifood systems face sustainability and resilience challenges. This Perspective identifies five systemic lock-ins hindering transformation and proposes guiding principles to address these issues for healthier food systems.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"505-512"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-05-22DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01355-8
Jingting Zhang, Hanqin Tian, Xin-Zhong Liang, Josep G. Canadell, Philippe Ciais, Robert B. Jackson, Zutao Ouyang, Jingfang Zhang, Shufan Pan
{"title":"Global rice paddy greenhouse gas emissions have doubled over the past six decades driven by area expansion and intensified residue incorporation","authors":"Jingting Zhang, Hanqin Tian, Xin-Zhong Liang, Josep G. Canadell, Philippe Ciais, Robert B. Jackson, Zutao Ouyang, Jingfang Zhang, Shufan Pan","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01355-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01355-8","url":null,"abstract":"Rice paddies are essential to global food security but are significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly methane (CH4), a potent driver of climate change. Here, using three independent approaches—a data-driven model, a process-based ecosystem model and a meta-analysis of over 1,255 field experiment sites—we estimate that net GHG emissions from global rice paddies approximately doubled from 1961–1980 to 2001–2020, driven primarily by a 52% increase in soil CO2 emissions and a 44% rise in soil CH4 emissions. For the most recent decade (2010s), global rice paddies emitted 1,090 ± 350 Tg of CO2-equivalent emissions (CO2e) per year, with an emission intensity of 0.33 ± 0.08 MgCO2e per million kilocalories. Rice area expansion was the largest contributor to net GHG increases, with secondary drivers being the widespread adoption of intensified residue incorporation. East Asia experienced renewed CH4 increases linked to excessive straw incorporation, while Africa emerged as an important CH4 hotspot because of rapid paddy expansion. Mitigation strategies such as reducing excessive residue and nitrogen inputs alongside the adoption of optimal tillage and irrigation could reduce future total net GHG emissions by ~10% without yield loss. However, achieving further reductions will require stronger climate-smart policy frameworks. Rice paddies are crucial for food security but are also a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study found that net soil GHG emissions nearly doubled from 1961–1980 to 2001–2020, mainly due to soil carbon stock change-derived CO2-equivalent emissions and soil methane emissions, underscoring the need for climate-smart management.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 5","pages":"474-487"},"PeriodicalIF":21.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148007711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nature foodPub Date : 2026-05-21DOI: 10.1038/s43016-026-01362-9
{"title":"Agri-environmental policies curb cropland degradation globally but effects vary widely","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s43016-026-01362-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s43016-026-01362-9","url":null,"abstract":"We provide global causal evidence that agri-environmental policies reduce cropland degradation. Using a dataset that links approximately 4,700 national policies to 83 million cropland observations worldwide, we showed that although agri-environmental policies are effective on average, their impacts vary substantially. Differences were observed across countries and depended on policy types.","PeriodicalId":94151,"journal":{"name":"Nature food","volume":"7 6","pages":"501-502"},"PeriodicalIF":24.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147990434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}