| Title |
Mitigating sustainability tradeoffs as global fruit and vegetable systems expand to meet dietary recommendations |
| ID_Doc |
33140 |
| Authors |
Stratton, AE; Finley, JW; Gustafson, DI; Mitcham, EJ; Myers, SS; Naylor, RL; Otten, JJ; Palm, CA |
| Title |
Mitigating sustainability tradeoffs as global fruit and vegetable systems expand to meet dietary recommendations |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
Environmental Research Letters, 16.0, 5 |
| Abstract |
Recent analyses indicate that global fruit and vegetable (F&V) production will need to increase by 50%-150% by 2050 in order to achieve sustainable and healthy diets for 10 billion people. Although global production of F&V has grown by 50% during the last two decades alone, simply scaling up current systems of F&V production, supply chains, and consumption will inevitably worsen environmental and socioeconomic tradeoffs. This article examines three examples of important F&V-avocados, leafy greens, and tomatoes-to assess the global challenge of meeting dietary recommendations at affordable prices to consumers while sustaining producer livelihoods and minimizing environmental damage. These three cases highlight key characteristics of F&V systems that make the challenge of sustainable expansion especially difficult: knowledge-, input-, and labor-intensive production, high rates of food loss and waste, and low affordability to consumers relative to less nutrient-dense food groups. Our analysis shows that only by investing in innovations that increase diversity, integrate technology, and improve equity will truly sustainable expansion of F&V systems be possible. |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe25a
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