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Nature-Based Solutions as Building Blocks for the Transition towards Sustainable Climate-Resilient Food Systems

Author

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  • Saskia Keesstra

    (Team Soil Water and Land Use, Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
    Departamento de Análisis Geográfico Regional y Geografía Física, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain)

  • Jeroen Veraart

    (Team Climate Resilience, Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Jan Verhagen

    (Agrosystems Business Unit, Wageningen Plant Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Saskia Visser

    (Team Soil Water and Land Use, Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
    Climate-Kic Holding B.V. Plantage Middenlaan 45, 1018 DC Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Marit Kragt

    (Centre for Agricultural Economics and Development, UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Vincent Linderhof

    (Green Economy and Land Use at Wageningen Economic Research, Postbus 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Wilfred Appelman

    (Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Postbus 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Jolanda van den Berg

    (Green Economy and Land Use at Wageningen Economic Research, Postbus 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, The Netherlands)

  • Ayodeji Deolu-Ajayi

    (Agrosystems Business Unit, Wageningen Plant Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

  • Annemarie Groot

    (Team Climate Resilience, Wageningen Environmental Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Food systems—encompassing food production, transportation, processing and consumption, including food losses and waste—are currently not delivering what is expected or needed to ensure their full contribution to societal well-being and ecological sustainability. In this paper, we hypothesize that nature-based solutions (NBS; solutions that are inspired by, supported by, or copied from nature) can overcome system challenges related to the functioning of the biosphere, society, or economy (including governance arrangements), and support a transition to sustainable climate-resilient food systems. We develop a conceptual framework to assess NBS contributions to such transitions. Three types of NBS are evaluated: intrinsic NBS which make use of existing ecosystems; hybrid NBS which manage and adapt ecosystems; and inspired NBS which consist of newly constructed ecosystems. We show that inspired NBS in particular will increase opportunities to achieve sustainable development in food systems. NBS can facilitate the much-needed transition to a different way of using our natural resources to reach the SDGs by 2030. We identify the knowledge gaps that impede the development of NBS to support a transition towards sustainable, climate-resilient food systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Saskia Keesstra & Jeroen Veraart & Jan Verhagen & Saskia Visser & Marit Kragt & Vincent Linderhof & Wilfred Appelman & Jolanda van den Berg & Ayodeji Deolu-Ajayi & Annemarie Groot, 2023. "Nature-Based Solutions as Building Blocks for the Transition towards Sustainable Climate-Resilient Food Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4475-:d:1085887
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Masoud Masoudi & Mostafa Aboutalebi & Elham Asrari & Artemi Cerdà, 2023. "Land Suitability of Urban and Industrial Development Using Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) and A New Model by GIS in Fasa County, Iran," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Peter Petschek & Aye P. P. Aung & Asan Suwanarit & Kim N. Irvine, 2024. "Integration of Building Information Modeling and Stormwater Runoff Modeling: Enhancing Design Tools for Nature-Based Solutions in Sustainable Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-33, April.
    3. Qian Forrest Zhang, 2024. "From Sustainable Agriculture to Sustainable Agrifood Systems: A Comparative Review of Alternative Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-24, November.

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