Volume 6 Issue 9, September 2025

Global development financing is transforming alongside trade and political disruptions. We should focus on creating a more diverse and efficient food finance system, including repurposing public support and leveraging private investments, says Johan Swinnen.

Discriminatory practices are well documented and deeply rooted in food systems. Systems science methods such as social network analysis, system dynamics modelling and agent-based modelling can help to determine how discriminatory processes arise, interact and accumulate to contribute to diet-related health disparities. Such methodological approaches can reveal leverage points for advancing equity-driven solutions.

Reducing the overconsumption of animal products can strongly reduce biodiversity impacts of diets.

Effective transmission of scientific information to the public can take many forms. An analysis of films promoting plant-based diets suggests that information provided in these formats can increase internet searches of keywords related to this topic.

As economies develop, farm labour finds better-paid positions across expanding agri-food value chains — reshaping wages and gender roles.

Estimates of the biodiversity pressures associated with fruits and vegetables produced in or imported by the UK, India and South Africa show that there is no ‘best’ fruit or vegetable crop for both biodiversity and human health. Instead, the crop type along with its origin have the greatest effects on biodiversity pressure.

Upcycling of food waste and food processing by-products into animal feed presents a circular strategy to recycle nutrients for livestock production that would otherwise be lost. Scenario analyses based on an integrated environmental–economic modelling approach demonstrate that this upcycling has asymmetric effects on food security and environmental sustainability.

An analysis of popular media finds that, based on internet searches, documentary films can increase short-term interest in plant-based diets.

Menu manipulation is a promising strategy to increase environmental and health benefits of food choices. Drawing on data from a UK university residence, this study illustrates such potential.

What we eat, as well as where and how it is grown, impacts species extinction risks through agricultural land use. Using a new global biodiversity impact data product, this study estimates how many species extinctions may potentially be caused by the production and consumption of different food types on a country-by-country basis.

An analysis of the EPIC study demonstrates that dietary plant biodiversity presents benefits for human and planetary health, but adverse environmental impacts are associated with dietary animal species richness.

The traditional structural transformation narrative emphasizes intersectoral labour reallocation out of agriculture. This study presents ten stylized facts about how employment and compensation evolve within agrifood value chains amid structural transformation, offering insights into post-farmgate dynamics and gender pay inequality.

A scenario analysis and integrated environmental–economic model demonstrate that repurposing food waste and food processing by-products for animal feed has asymmetric effects on food security and environment sustainability.

Increasing the consumption of specific food groups will be key for human health but might also lead to environmental impact. This study compares the biodiversity pressures associated with fruits and vegetables consumed in the United Kingdom, India and South Africa.