The climate and our food

The food-climate nexus describes the intricate relationship between our food system and climate change. Our current food system plays a significant role in contributing to climate change, while the changing climate threatens our food systems. Businesses in the food and agricultural sector can take several actions to tackle the challenges presented by the food-climate nexus.

How climate change impacts our food

Climate change has a significant impact on crop yields, and agriculture accounts for approximately 60-70% of the world’s water usage. As global temperatures rise, the risk of drought increases, decreasing the overall water supply. The more frequent occurrence of extreme weather events is affecting the entire agricultural supply chain, which may result in higher prices.

Additionally, about 70% of global crops depend on pollinators, and as climate change reduces biodiversity, pollinator populations are likely to decline. In the 30 years leading up to 2010, these factors contributed to a decline in global yields for maize, wheat, and soybeans by 4.1%, 1.8%, and 4.5%, respectively. Other crops, such as fruits and vegetables, may also be negatively affected, especially in tropical and semi-tropical regions.

Food system impacts

The links between our food system and climate change go beyond reduced yields and disrupted supply chains. Limiting the impacts of climate change will take a global effort, in which our food system plays an important role. Accounting for up to 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions coupled with consuming more water than any other industry and being the leading driver of biodiversity loss, action must be taken.

Actions for businesses

Action can take many forms. For businesses within the food and agriculture space, having a robust ESG strategy is crucial.

The first port of call for any company would be understanding its full Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. These will feed into your target setting, identify carbon hotspots and key actions, and allow for tracking progress over time.

To take that next step, expand your strategy beyond greenhouse gas emissions and assess the wider impacts on nature and biodiversity. The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Science-Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) are two of the most comprehensive guidelines. Producing a TNFD report would involve assessing nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities, including governance structures and mitigation efforts. SBTN targets would provide metrics to track land use and water consumption.

ESG is increasingly being used as a differentiator to gain a competitive advantage. Therefore, developing a robust sustainability strategy covering greenhouse gas emissions and nature-related topics can provide various benefits to the business. Not only will you be setting yourself apart from competitors, but you will also be making your business more resilient to the threats that climate change poses.

How Inspired can help

We specialise in supporting companies in developing their ESG strategy; identifying the relevant gaps affecting ESG ratings and providing specific recommendations to improve overall ESG performance.

For more information on how we support food and drink manufacturers, click here.