Now
Where are the unsustainability drivers?
GHG emissions from transportation make up a very small amount of the emissions from food (less than 10%), and what you choose to eat is far more impactful than where your food traveled from1. But, it’s difficult for people to change their food habits—for example, fish demand continues to increase and is expected to double by 20502. With habits in this industry remaining unchanged, technology such as aquaculture or fish farming is necessary to maintain a sustainable food supply chain.
What are food industry leaders doing to decrease their impact on the environment?
Companies are making efforts to reduce deforestation and engage in good water stewardship. For example, Nestle is 97.2% deforestation-free in their commodity supply chains (e.g. palm oil, pulp, soya) and is aiming to be completely deforestation-free by 20253. Furthermore, PepsiCo has improved water-use efficiency by 15% in their agricultural supply chain in high water-risk areas4.
What are some current innovations in packaging?
Companies such as PepsiCo have continued to work on improving packaging efficiency. PepsiCo has designed 87% of their packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable, and are aiming to reach 100% by 20254. They have also invested in recycling education and research improving recycling infrastructure. Independently, groups of outside affiliation have also contributed to these sustainable packaging and storage movements. Shelf-life extension innovations, such as Apeel, have been developed to prevent food product spoilage5.
Like PepsiCO, the USDA continues to support education and research. Gene Lester, the National Program Leader for Product Quality, New Uses, and Biorefining/Bioproducts, said that “USDA’s Agricultural Research Service supports innovation by conducting, often in collaboration with industry and academic partners, research on new technologies for reducing spoilage of fresh foods and the development of new products from waste materials at food processing facilities”6 .
Green Farming
Shifts in EU policy in 2021 towards sustainability are criticized for not being enough to meet the urgency of the earth’s current state. Green groups are asking for greater than ¼ of spending to be spent on sustainability and green farming7.
Farming practices continue to be innovated to meet the increasing urgency of sustainable food production. Smart farming includes data analytics and a wireless cloud system to help navigate climate-related challenges, with sensors that can give farmers insight into soil quality and a lead on variables like temperature, water, light, and humidity. Indoor farming such as vertical farming, hydroponics, etc. may all pride a pathway to higher yield close to population centers.