WUR Researchers Help Chart Path to Sustainable food Systems in Landmark EAT-Lancet Report
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Two Wageningen University & Research (WUR) researchers played a key role in a recent EAT-Lancet report revealing food systems are the primary driver of planetary boundary violations, and demonstrating pathways to significantly reduce that impact. Simon and Bekkers’ work, utilizing the CiFoS model, uniquely achieved reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus levels below projected 2050 limits – a feat that surprised even the researchers themselves.
The EAT-Lancet Commission first gained prominence in 2019 with a scientific report outlining a “Planetary Health Diet“ focused on plant-based eating. The subsequent report,released last October,builds on this foundation,with WUR professors Hannah van Zanten and Wim de Vries leading key research areas.De Vries quantified planetary boundaries for nitrogen and phosphorus, while Van Zanten investigated the impact of dietary shifts and improved circularity – areas directly supported by the contributions of Bekkers and Simon.
“We were the only modeling team that managed to bring nitrogen and phosphorus levels below the 2050 planetary limits,” explained Simon. “Our approach was quite radical, as we did not take economic factors into account. This allowed us to wholly redesign the food system from an environmental perspective.”
The team’s modeling framework now provides a platform for comparing scenarios and incorporating new ideas, including those from WUR students. Future research will focus on applying the model to regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and permaculture systems, as well as regional case studies, to identify sustainable food systems capable of feeding a projected global population of 10 billion by 2090 while remaining within planetary boundaries.
“This conference really made me realize how relevant and impactful our work is,” Simon added. The researchers hope their contribution will pave the way for further WUR involvement in future EAT-Lancet reports and research initiatives.
