Food Systems and Natural Resources
Report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme's International Resource Panel, published in May 2016
The Food Systems working group of the International Resource Panel (IRP) has prepared a comprehensive scientific assessment of the current status and dynamics of the use of natural resources in food systems and their environmental impacts.
The report analyses food as a key connection point (a 'node') where various societal issues, such as human dependence on natural resources, the environment, health and well-being, coincide. Instead of looking separately at resources, such as land, water, and minerals, IRP chose a systematic approach. The report analyses all the resources necessary for primary food production as well as for other activities related to the food system (processing, distribution), considering not only such set of activities, but also the set of players involved and the results in terms of food safety, livelihood and human health.