How can the EU climate targets be met? A combined analysis of technological and demand-side changes in food and agriculture

By David Bryngelsson, Stefan Wirsenius, F. Hedenus, U. Sonesson. 2016

226 citations recorded by the source corpus.

To meet the 2°C climate target, deep cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be required for carbon dioxide from fossil fuels but, most likely, also for methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture and other sources. However, relatively little is known about the GHG mitigation potential in agriculture, in particular with respect to the combined effects of technological advancements and dietary changes. Here, we estimate the extent to which changes in technology and demand can reduce Swedish food-related GHG emissions necessary for meeting EU climate targets. This analysis is based on a detailed representation of the food and agriculture system, using 30 different food items.

Subfields: Ecology, Environmental Engineering, Food Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/0c78679460aceaa1adbdaf83ccdea7cffad8f09f

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Ecology

In Environmental Engineering

In Food Science

Citations in the corpus

Considering Plant-Based Meat Substitutes and Cell-Based Meats: A Public Health and Food Systems Perspective (2020, background): “Growing scientific consensus has established that substantial shifts toward plant-forward diets, particularly in high meat-consuming countries, are essential for meeting climate change mitigation targets (Bajželj et al., 2014; Hedenus et al., 2014; Bryngelsson et al., 2016) and remaining within plan”
The role of trade in the greenhouse gas footprints of EU diets (2018, background): “However, there is considerable variation between the emission intensities of fish depending on the origin (e.g. wild catch or fish farming) and fish types (Buchspies et al., 2011).”
Shifting Diets for a Sustainable Food Future (2016, background): “Hedenus et al. (2014), Bryngelsson et al. (2016) Found that reducing ruminant meat and dairy consumption—in addition to improving agricultural productivity and efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation—is a necessary strategy to meet European Union and…”
Country-specific dietary shifts to mitigate climate and water crises (2019, background): “Shifts toward plant-forward diets are essential for meeting climate change mitigation targets (Bajzelj et al., 2014; Bryngelsson et al., 2016; Hedenus et al., 2014) and remaining within planetary boundaries (Willett et al.”
The environmental sustainability of insects as food and feed. A review (2017, background): “This can be achieved by substituting animal protein with vegetable protein and making a transition from ruminants (e.g., cattle and sheep) (McAlpine et al. 2009; Tilman and Clark 2014; Bryngelsson et al. 2016) to lower impact species (e.g., pigs and poultry) (Steinfeld and Gerber 2010).”
Less meat, more legumes: prospects and challenges in the transition toward sustainable diets in Sweden (2018, unknown): “%) associated with the Swedish diet, reduce the need for N fertilizer and the N load from wastewater plants, greatly increase fiber intake and improve folate intake from diets, and bring many agronomic benefits to Swedish cropping systems.”