From Plate to Planet: Advancing Sustainable Diets and Circular Food Systems

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable food systems, there is an increasing necessity to shift nutrition research and practices towards enduring environmental stewardship and efficient resource management. Genuine sustainability in human diets necessitates comprehensive strategies that support not only human health and nutrition but also prioritize planetary well-being, climate resilience, and the responsible utilization of natural resources.

This Research Topic spotlights the pathways to more sustainable food systems by underscoring innovations that mitigate environmental impacts, valorize by-products, and uphold circular economy principles. Emerging initiatives surrounding sustainable proteins, eco-friendly packaging, food waste reduction, and dietary transitions are crucial for shaping food systems that are resilient and equitable. However, significant questions persist regarding their broader ecological, social, and economic impacts, including scalability, resource footprints, and their role in reducing hunger and malnutrition.

By prioritizing sustainability, this Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of how dietary patterns, food production, and resource cycles can be transformed in alignment with global sustainability goals—specifically SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 13 (Climate Action). We especially encourage research that adopts a systems perspective, evaluating the environmental, nutritional, and social trade-offs of innovations and interventions across the food value chain.

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Sustainable protein sources: examining the environmental benefits and trade-offs of plant-based, precision-fermented, and alternative proteins

o Circular economy and resource valorization: innovations aimed at minimizing food loss, repurposing waste, and promoting nutrient recycling

o Eco-friendly packaging and preservation: exploring biodegradable, compostable, and resource-conserving materials to lessen the environmental footprint of food systems

o Dietary transitions for sustainability: analyzing shifts to dietary patterns that lower environmental impacts while promoting health equity

o Nutrient density and system sustainability: strategic delivery of key nutrients efficiently within environmental constraints

o Food security and resilience: interventions addressing hunger, undernutrition, and food access as connected environmental issues

o Policy, measurement, and intervention: critical reviews, innovative indicators, and case studies supporting actionable advancements in sustainable diets and systems

Keywords: Sustainable Food Systems, Circular Economy, Resource Valorization, Alternative Proteins, Eco-Friendly Packaging, Dietary Transitions, Nutrient Density, Food Security

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.