How far are global croplands from environmental sustainability: from production to consumption perspectives

Crop production exerts substantial pressure on the Earth system and frequently exceeds environmental boundaries, including those related to greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen use, biomass appropriation, and freshwater use.  International trade redistributes these production related impacts, with high-income countries often externalizing a significant share of the environmental pressures associated with their food consumption.

Using 2020 detailed international food trade data (FAOSTAT) combined with our crop-specific assessment of production sustainability in 2020 (https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2526), we quantify the environmental unsustainability embedded in international trade flows of crop commodities. We then explore the potential effects of demand-side changes, namely dietary shifts, on global environmental sustainability. This analysis highlights the importance of addressing sustainability from the demand side and provides policy-relevant insights based on the most recent, crop-specific assessment of environmental sustainability