We need a food system transformation—In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, now more than ever

We need a food system transformation—In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, now more than ever

Lisa M. Pörtner1,2, Nathalie Lambrecht1,2, Marco Springmann3, Benjamin Leon Bodirsky2,4, Franziska Gaupp2,5, Florian Freund6, Hermann Lotze-Campen2,7, and Sabine Gabrysch1,2

1 Charite ́ – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Public
Health, Charite ́platz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
2 Research Department Climate Resilience, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), member of the Leibniz Association, P.O. Box
60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, Germany
3 Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food and Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
4 World Vegetable Institute, Tainan, Taiwan
5 EAT, Oslo, Norway
6 Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute - Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Institute of Market Analysis,
Bundesallee 63, 38116 Braunschweig
7 Department of Agricultural Economics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10099 Berlin, Germany

the market 3147758

The transformation toward a healthy, just, and environmentally friendly food system needs to be reinforced – and not abandoned – in the face of the Russia-Ukraine war. We need comprehensive solutions that bring short-term relief and also avert the existential threat our food system poses to the health of people and the planet. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created not only a humanitarian catastrophe but has disrupted global energy systems and agricultural markets. In this commentary we outline our ideas for coping with short-term food systems shocks while ensuring human health without abandoning efforts for long-term sustainable development.

 

 

Publication details

Portner, LM, Lambrecht, N, Springmann, M,. et al. 2022. We need a food system transformation - In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, now more than ever. One Earth 5, May 20, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.04.004