Researchers push for a net zero food system by 2050

However, a new research paper from The Alliance of Bioversity International suggests that global emissions from food could be reduced tenfold, to just 2 GtCO2e annually – and without the use of carbon offsets. 

Through a combination of measures including reduced meat consumption, improved carbon sequestration food production methods and innovative technologies such as intelligent food packaging and vertical agriculture, the authors of the paper, titled Roadmap for achieving net-zero emissions in global food systems by 2050, argue that it is possible to create a sustainable food system that benefits everyone.

However, they do concede that challenges around finance, consumer behaviour and governance represent obstacles, noting that food systems “have the potential to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, but countries’ contextual constraints are likely to limit the potential reach of implementation”.