Library | ESG issues
Food Systems
Food systems encompass all processes and activities involved in producing, processing, distributing, and consuming food. They have a significant impact on population health and the environment, with key challenges including food security, food waste, nutrition-related diseases, and environmental degradation. Investors can assess companies based on factors such as sustainable sourcing, climate impact, sustainable farming practices, and regulatory compliance.
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The economics of water: Valuing the hydrological cycle as a global common good
The report argues the hydrological cycle should be governed as a global common good, with water valued more accurately and managed for efficiency, equity and environmental sustainability, supported by five missions spanning food systems, ecosystems, circular water use, lower water-intensity industry, and universal safe water access. The report is produced by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, supported by the OECD.
100 million farmers: Breakthrough models for financing a sustainability transition
Report proposes financing and collaboration models to accelerate adoption of regenerative agriculture. It identifies economic, technical and social barriers farmers face and outlines coordinated mechanisms—combining ecosystem-service monetisation, blended capital and multi-actor partnerships—to scale sustainable food production and support farmers’ transition.
The EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems
This report assesses how transforming global food systems can improve health, sustainability, and equity. It updates evidence on the planetary health diet, quantifies food systems’ pressures on planetary boundaries, and analyses justice in food access and production, recommending coordinated policy, dietary shifts, and sustainable agricultural practices to support healthy diets within environmental limits.
Finance, nature and food systems: Consumers choosing sustainable food systems in Brazil
This report analyses Brazilian food consumption behaviours and tests nudging strategies in online shopping to promote sustainable diets. Findings indicate plant-rich diets, reduced food waste and improved labelling could lower food-system emissions. The study recommends combining consumer nudges, education and policy measures to support sustainable food choices and environmental outcomes.
Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is a leading Dutch academic institution focused on sustainable food systems, climate change, biodiversity, agriculture and environmental science.
It combines university education with applied and fundamental research to address global challenges in nutrition, health, water and circular bioeconomy. WUR partners with industry and governments worldwide.
It combines university education with applied and fundamental research to address global challenges in nutrition, health, water and circular bioeconomy. WUR partners with industry and governments worldwide.
We can’t ignore the largest source of methane
This article argues the global food system is the largest source of human-caused methane and deserves far more policy and funding attention. It maps key emission “hot spots”—ruminant livestock, food waste in landfills, biomass burning, and flooded rice fields—and outlines practical mitigation options from dietary shifts to landfill capture and improved rice management.
Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security: A national security assessment
This UK national security assessment finds global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse pose high risks to food security, economic stability and geopolitics. Degradation is widespread, with potential ecosystem collapse from 2030–2050, intensifying migration, conflict, supply chain disruption and strategic competition without decisive intervention.
Food systems investing in East Africa: The roles of funds in financing food systems transformation
This report analyses 23 impact funds investing in East African food systems, assessing their design, impact alignment, and financing roles. It identifies gaps, good practices, and recommendations to strengthen agroecological and regenerative food systems investing.
On the horizon: Climate-induced inflation and the price of food
This report analyses climate-driven food price inflation in the UK, linking global heat and drought shocks to rising import costs. It projects 25–34% cumulative food inflation by 2050, with disproportionate impacts on low-income households and increased poverty risks.
Unlocking Opportunity: Addressing Livestock Methane to Build Resilient Food Systems
This Ceres report outlines the financial and climate case for reducing livestock methane. It maps methane exposure across food supply chains and sets out strategies for companies and investors to manage risk, strengthen resilience, and capture value through near-term methane mitigation.
Impacts of climate change on global agriculture accounting for adaptation
This study estimates global climate change impacts on six staple crops using subnational data and observed adaptation. Yields fall by about 4.4% of recommended calories per 1 °C warming. Adaptation and income growth offset losses partially, but substantial global and regional yield declines remain.
Climate extremes, food price spikes, and their wider societal risks
The report links unprecedented climate extremes to sharp food price spikes, documenting recent global cases. It finds these shocks worsen inequality, food security, health outcomes, inflation volatility and political stability, and argues for stronger mitigation, adaptation, forecasting and social safety nets to manage rising systemic risks.
Creating a sustainable food future
The report assesses how to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050 while limiting land expansion and emissions. It identifies food, land and greenhouse gas gaps, and proposes 22 solutions spanning demand reduction, productivity gains, ecosystem protection, fisheries growth and agricultural emissions mitigation.
Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD)
Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD) is a French agricultural research and international cooperation organisation focused on sustainable development in tropical and Mediterranean regions. It builds scientific knowledge, supports resilient farming systems, and fosters sustainability in food systems, biodiversity and climate adaptation worldwide.
The Other Half of the Transition: Why Livestock Deserves as Much Attention as Energy
This article highlights the major climate impact of livestock and explains why the absence of clear roadmaps, metrics, and financing strategies has left the sector far behind the energy transition. It proposes policy reforms, mitigation hierarchies, and justice-centered pathways to unlock effective and equitable change.
Missing ingredients: How agriculture and diet get overlooked in media coverage of climate change
The report finds agriculture particularly animal agriculture and diet, receives disproportionately little climate coverage. Only small fractions of articles mention meat or dietary shifts, despite their emissions significance. Coverage is declining overall, limiting public awareness and policy momentum. The analysis urges more accurate, comprehensive reporting on food-system climate impacts.
