Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the section “Food Sustainability”. 

Food is existential basis for all heterotrophs. The food quality, quality, availability and accessibility form complex matrix of food sustainability, more so in changing climates. Dwindling resources, climatic stresses and environmental pollution on one hand and increasing demand for food on the other are challenging the food sustainability. Integration of production, processing, distribution, socio-economic, health and policy systems will achieve the sustainable systems.

Though, over 30 000 plant species are edible, less than 7000 species have been cultivated for food in human history. This number further comes down to about 170 crops for commercial significance. 83% of the calories come from plant-based food and remaining 17% come from animal supply. While we depend on less than 30 species for daily calorie requirement, 40% of it comes from rice, wheat and maize. The situation further becomes worst as a smaller number of varieties being grown in the name of high yielding. About 77% of agricultural areas is used for livestock production including grazing and feed generation. Over 30% of cereal crop production from about 40% of arable land is used for animal feeds.

Confounding this situation, climatic risks, environmental pollution, food contamination, adulteration, changing food habits, dwindling food basket are significantly challenging the food sustainability and nutritional security and thus affecting the human and environment health. In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land there is an urgent need to relook into the existing approaches and provide viable alternatives for sustaining the food systems.

Some such areas include widening food basket, climate positive production systems, novel feeds to reduce load on cultivable land, reduction in wastage in the value chain, one-health, innovations and policy requirements. Research article, reviews (including mini-reviews), meta-analysis papers, etc., addressing these issues are invited.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Leading Section Editor:

Prof. Soora Naresh Kumar

Support Section Editors:

Dr. Dani Dordevic 

Dr. Mohammad Faizan

Dr. Massaro Sousa  

Dr. Aaqillah Amr Mohd Amran