Towards a More Sustainable Food System
Carbon Footprint Measurement, Mitigation Policy, and Fair Agricultural Trade
eyesonsuriname
Amsterdam, 1 nov 2025– Global food production stands at a critical crossroads. On one hand, the sector must provide sufficient food for a growing world population; on the other, a drastic reduction in the environmental impact of agriculture and land use is urgently needed. Agriculture and forestry rank among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, yet simultaneously offer unique opportunities for climate protection, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable development. This essay examines three essential pillars for this transformation: measuring the carbon footprint of food products, evaluating climate policy in the land use sector, and making international agricultural trade more sustainable.
Measuring the Carbon Footprint of Agri-food Products
Making the climate impact of food visible – from field to plate – has become an important international priority. The carbon footprint quantifies the total emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide throughout all phases: production, processing, transportation, and consumption. The differences between products are substantial. Beef and dairy, for example, typically generate much higher emissions than grains or vegetables.
Accurately measuring these emissions offers several advantages. It enables producers to make more conscious choices towards sustainable production methods. Supermarkets and wholesalers can align their purchasing policies accordingly, while consumers can make better-informed decisions about their food choices.
The greatest challenge, however, lies in achieving consistency and transparency. Different measurement methods, incomplete datasets, and limited possibilities for independent verification hinder fair comparisons between products. New technologies such as blockchain and satellite monitoring can contribute to the traceability of food chains. To achieve real impact, however, international standardization is indispensable.
Inventory and Evaluation of Mitigation Policy in Agriculture, Forestry, and Land Use
The way we use land largely determines the health of our planet. Deforestation for agricultural purposes represents one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. At the same time, forests and soils function as the most important natural carbon reservoirs on Earth.
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Effective climate policy focuses on multiple objectives: preventing deforestation, restoring degraded landscapes, and promoting nature-based solutions. Examples include agroforestry, which combines agriculture and forestry, the restoration of peatlands and mangrove areas that store large amounts of carbon, and regenerative agricultural practices that improve soil fertility and promote carbon sequestration.
A thorough evaluation of climate policy requires systematic data collection, continuous monitoring, and active involvement of farmers and local communities. Countries making progress in this area invest not only in climate protection but simultaneously strengthen their food security and rural development.
Making Agricultural Trade More Sustainable: International Developments
International trade in agricultural products is closely intertwined with issues such as deforestation, soil degradation, and social inequality. At the same time, this trade plays an important role in economic development and poverty reduction. Increasingly, countries are developing policies to green this trade.
This occurs through various instruments. The European Union, for instance, has introduced legislation aimed at preventing imports of products linked to deforestation. Additionally, sustainability labels and certification systems are deployed, trade agreements are linked to social and environmental conditions, and partnerships are established to share technology and knowledge with producers.
However, there exists a real risk that strict sustainability requirements lead to the exclusion of smallholder farmers in developing countries, who often lack the resources to meet these standards. Truly sustainable trade therefore requires an approach based on partnership rather than only control and enforcement. This means fair prices, access to market information, and concrete support for the transition to more sustainable production methods.
The transformation towards a sustainable food system requires an integrated approach in which policy, data, and international cooperation reinforce each other. Measuring climate impact, implementing effective mitigation policy, and reforming trade relations are not separate initiatives but interrelated components of one common endeavor: realizing a just and climate-resilient agriculture capable of continuing to feed future generations without further depleting the planet.