Sustainable Food Consumption and Production in the 21st Century: Volume II

Food production and use patterns remain a growing concern. Large amounts of food go to waste while many people do not get enough to eat. Farms use a big share of water and land, and animal products often have a high impact on the environment. Rising population numbers and changing weather add more pressure to our food system. New types of foods, better farming practices, and improved supply chains are being studied to address these challenges. This second volume builds on the first, adding fresh studies on how to make food practices kinder to the environment. It will share work on better ways to grow and consume food while keeping an eye on resources, profits, and health. We hope this will help readers learn about important steps toward more balanced food systems.



Although many studies look at better ways to grow, process, and eat food, we still need more work on how different groups accept or refuse these methods. There is a need to understand how plant-based items, bio-fortified foods, and other new products can reach people in different settings and help improve well-being. At the same time, farmers and food businesses face questions about costs, risks, and how to meet rules on resource use. Shifts in diets around the world also bring both chances and worries for producers, firms, and policymakers. This second collection aims to fill these gaps by bringing together research that can show how to lower waste, protect the environment, and support strong food supply chains. We want to spark new ideas on balanced production and use, with a goal of making food systems fairer and more lasting.



We welcome studies and reviews that share clear ideas on how to make food systems more effective while caring for people and nature. Submissions may cover topics listed below (but not limited to):



• Research articles, review articles, case studies, and perspectives that focus on both the consumer and producer aspects of sustainable food systems

• Studies on advanced production methods and their environmental impacts, as well as strategies to reduce food loss and waste

• Investigations of consumer attitudes toward new and reformulated foods, including the socioeconomic factors influencing acceptance

• Economic approaches and market-based tools to support smallholder farmers, improve resource efficiency, and enhance food security

• Policy frameworks and governance models that promote climate-smart practices, circular economy principles, or food sovereignty

• Cross-disciplinary work that addresses social, economic, and technological factors shaping sustainable food production and consumption practices, with the goal of fostering broad and lasting changes in global food chains

Keywords: Sustainable food systems, Food security, Consumer behavior, Precision agriculture, Circular economy, Bio-fortified foods, Plant-based meat alternatives, Food supply chains, Resource use efficiency

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.