This event was hosted by TABLE on 14 November 2023 and took the format of a panel discussion with:Dr Tara Garnett (director of TABLE);Dustin Benton (Green Alliance);Dr Dhanush Dinesh (Clim-Eat);Arghanoon Karhikhtah (Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)).

This paper considers the potential for synthetically (without agricultural) produced dietary fats to reduce the impact that global diets have on the environment. The paper explores potential inputs for this process, and compares the greenhouse gas and land use emissions saving of scaling various synthetic fat production models compared with organically produced fats.

The paper provides an overview of the current and potential future uses of digital technologies in agri-food production, processing and distribution; identifying advantages, disadvantages and barriers to adoption. The paper highlights case studies of digital technology companies working to improve food safety.

Gene drives are landscape-scale gene editing technologies that have the potential to reduce pests, crop damage, pesticide use and crop prices. One potential negative impact explored by this paper is the restriction of consumer choice affecting consumer welfare. In order to understand this impact, the paper surveyed US consumers about their preferences regarding gene drives compared with pesticide use and GM crops.

Seaweed farming is being championed as a magic bullet for food systems and the environment, promising to capture carbon, rehabilitate ecosystems and feed the world. Recent reporting from the Guardian investigates one seaweed enterprise, the Climate Foundation, and its mission to win Elon Musk’s $100m Xprize. 

The UN warned that the world is losing 1 millions square kilometres (386,000 square miles) of agricultural land every year to sand and dust storms. At least a quarter of storms could be attributed to human activity, primarily overmining and overgrazing. 

The Colorado river supplies tens of millions of people and millions of acres of farmland with water, but its supply is shrinking. Investigations by ProPublica reveal that 20 families use the majority of water consumed by farmers and more than some entire states. 

This work uses the avocado as a lens to analyse the impact of globalising the production of local food. Eldridge explores the economic, environmental and ethical problems raised by the transition that has occurred to meet global demand for avocados.  

Aimed at industry professionals, this book offers a practical guide to analyse and design sustainable business practice in the food industry. The book demystifies a range of topics in the food system through using real life business cases.