Sustainable food systems

Food systems encompass all the activities, knowledge (and related cultural routines), relating to the production, processing, transport, consumption, and disposal of food. Food systems also include supporting enabling mechanisms, such as economic and political systems, and the technologies to allow food to travel from producer to consumer. As a result, they tend to be shaped by the societies in which they are formed, consisting of complex linkages between food supply chain points. Historically food systems have been linear in nature, which can pose issues regarding their capability to provide enough food for future generations. In order to develop sustainable food systems (SFS) into the future, there needs to be a focus on social, economic, and environmental sustainability (SEES). To achieve this, supply chains must be modified through the development of new supply chain management strategies, and more efficient, flexible processing technologies. These types of modifications can potentially optimize food, energy, and water resource usage to minimize waste and also optimize population health. Ideally this occurs while maintaining economic health of the food systems and their surrounding environment. These are very lofty targets, but with dedicated food engineers, food technologists, and food scientists, many of these goals can be attained. This chapter will focus on considerations for SFS implementation, and how food engineering innovations may assist.