The challenges of global food security, environmental degradation and social inequality call for a rethink in the design of our agricultural and food systems. In their latest interdisciplinary position paper, a team from the Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" presents the concept of "Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems (SARAS) - a new systemic approach to healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems. The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy is involved in the publication, which was published in the journal Sustainable Development, with its programme area "Healthy Foods" as a cooperation partner of the network.
Critical starting position
The current agricultural and food systems contribute significantly to global environmental problems. They cause around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, impair biodiversity and pollute the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus. At the same time, an unhealthy diet increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Both obesity and malnutrition are widespread, and billions of people cannot afford a healthy diet. Food loss and waste exacerbate these problems, and global trade dependencies make many countries even more vulnerable. To meet these challenges, concepts such as "Sustainable Diets", "Sustainable Food Systems" and the "Planetary Health Diet" have been developed, but these are primarily focussed on health and sustainability.
A new, holistic approach
The partners of the Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" believe that these approaches must be supplemented by the aspect of resilience in order to make systems more resistant to crises such climate change, pandemics, trade restrictions and wars. In an interdisciplinary workshop, 19 scientists from leading German and international research institutions developed the concept of "Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems" - in short SARAS. It combines sustainability with resilience and provides concrete recommendations for action for the ecological, economic, political, social and global-local transformation of food systems - from production to consumption. The aim of SARAS is to ensure stable and healthy food systems for present and future generations.
The five pillars of the concept
In the ecological area, SARAS recommends diversification in land use, more diversity in crops and eating habits as well as smart agriculture and urban food systems.
In economic terms, the aim is to reduce food waste and price food in such a way that healthy and sustainable nutrition becomes affordable. To increase the resilience of supply chains, agricultural products should be sourced from several countries in addition to domestic production. In addition, trade policy should be made more sustainable so that environmental impacts are not shifted to the producing countries.
At a political level, SARAS proposes including environmental damage in the price of food, for example through a CO2 tax. In addition, taxes on unhealthy foods should be examined and environmentally harmful agricultural subsidies be reformed. Dietary recommendations should take into account both human and planetary health, as the German Nutrition Society, for example, has done in its updated dietary recommendations of 2024.
In social terms, it is important to promote a fair food environment that offers more and easier choices for a more sustainable diet. Greater attention should also be paid to co-operative production models for integrated and regional agricultural and food systems.
For the global-local transformation of food systems, SARAS recommends that international climate targets are also taken into account in agriculture and nutrition. Decisions should be based on global and local plans for the future and international cooperation should be improved. In addition, fair and inclusive food systems should be created - within and between countries.
"SARAS means more than just sustainable and healthy nutrition. It stands for food systems that are also crisis-proof," explains Dr Petra Wiedmer, coordinator of the Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" at DIfE. "Only by focussing on sustainability and resilience can we overcome the global challenges."
Wealthy countries should lead the way
It is important for the success of SARAS to recognise and evaluate conflicting goals and synergies. Despite much progress, there are still gaps in knowledge, particularly with regard to practical implementation at local level and changing individual eating habits. In addition, policy measures are context-dependent and difficult to transfer to all countries.
The publication particularly emphasises the responsibility of wealthy countries: they should be pioneers in the implementation of SARAS through political measures, research and international cooperation - for the benefit of all. "SARAS shows a way in which we can make agriculture and nutrition more environmentally friendly, healthier, fairer and more crisis-proof," says Prof Tilman Grune, spokesperson of the Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" at DIfE. "This requires many small and large steps - worldwide, in politics and business and in our everyday lives."
Publication
Hunecke, C., Thom, F., Vogt, J. H.-M., Bellingrath-Kimura, S. D., Brück, T., Gaupp, F., Geppert, F., Grune, T., Herzfeld, T., Kulling, S. E., Ojha, S., Piorr, A., Regierer, B., Renner, B., Schlüter, O., Schreiner, M., Springmann, M., Weith, T., Wiedmer, P.: Sustainable and Resilient Agrifood Systems (SARAS). A Leibniz Position. Sustain. Dev. in press (E-pub ahead of print) (2025). [Open Access]
Similar publications
Weindl, I., Ost, M., Wiedmer, P., Schreiner, M., Neugart, S., Klopsch, R., Kühnhold, H., Kloas, W., Henkel, I. M., Schlüter, O., Bußler, S., Bellingrath-Kimura, S. D., Ma, H., Grune, T., Rolinski, S., Klaus, S.: Sustainable food protein supply reconciling human and ecosystem health: A Leibniz Position. Global Food Security 25:100367 (2020). [Open Access]
Background
The interdisciplinary workshop of the Leibniz Network "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" took place from 7 to 8 June 2022 at the Leibniz Head Office in Berlin. Researchers from the Leibniz Institutes Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB), Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy e.V. (ATB) and Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) took part. (ATB), Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) and German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke (DIfE), von Thünen Institute, ILS - Institute for Regional and Urban Development Research gGmbH, International Security and Development Centre, Institute for Global Health, Max Rubner Institute (MRI) and the Universities of Halle, Constance, Oxford, Waterford, Bologna and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin discussed the ecological, economic, social and political dimensions of sustainable food systems and the associated conflicts of objectives. They have now published their proposed solutions in a joint Leibniz position paper.
Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society"
In the Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society", scientists from ten Leibniz Institutes are working on interdisciplinary solution strategies for a healthy and sustainable food system. A "green diet" includes both a nutritionally optimal diet and resource-efficient food production, processing and distribution. The focus of the collaboration is the scientific exchange between Leibniz researchers, the identification of specific research needs and the regular transfer of knowledge to policymakers and the public.
The Leibniz research networks "Green Nutrition - Healthy Society" is coordinated by DIfE.
Contact
Dr Oliver Schlüter
Tel.: +49 331 5699-613
E-Mail: oschlueter@atb-potsdam.de