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Global food and land use transitions: Challenges and opportunities for Australia

How can we apply the ten transitions to transform the world’s food and land use systems in Australia?

The 10 food and land use transitions.

Australia’s land is under increasing pressure as global demand for food and fibre increases and land use competition grows. There are ten food and land use transitions the world can adopt to better manage these challenges and opportunities.

Explore the transitions to transform the world’s food and land use systems below. Click on each transition to learn more and access our new series of papers released each week exploring Australia’s role.

This graphic is an adapted version of the original found in Growing Better: Ten Critical Transitions to Transform Food and Land Use which was designed by Regency Creative, London for the Food and Land Use Coalition.

  • 3
  • 1
    • OUTCOMES
2

1. Nature-based solutions

2. Wider choice and supply

3. Opportunity for all

1. Nature-based solutions

  • Scaling productive and regenerative agriculture

    Changing farming practices and technologies can improve profitability and resilience while reducing and reversing climate, environmental and other impacts. Read more here.

  • Protecting and restoring nature

    It is possible to both produce affordable, nutritious food and fibre while protecting and rehabilitating the ecosystems that underpin human health, livelihoods, food security and wellbeing. Read more here.

  • Securing a healthy and productive ocean

    Producing more ocean-based protein from sustainable fishing and aquaculture is possible but depends upon protection and restoration of marine and estuarine ecosystems. Read more here.

    • 2. Wider choice and supply

  • Building local loops and linkages

    Circular local food economies can reduce environmental impacts, build resilience and improve security of fresh food by shortening supply chains and repurposing urban waste streams. Read more here.

  • Reducing food loss and waste

    Efficiency and optimisation, redistribution of excess food and repurposing of unavoidable food waste can reduce pressure on the climate, water and land resources, while delivering economic benefits. Read more here.

  • Diversifying sources of protein

    Expanding the range of protein sources could provide health benefits, free up land and water for other uses, and cut methane and greenhouse gas emissions, while opening up new economic opportunities. Read more here.

  • Promoting healthy diets

    A shift towards more plant-rich diets could meet human health and nutritional needs while minimising environmental impacts. Read more here.

    • 3. Opportunity for all

  • Prioritising diversity and inclusion

    Meaningfully contributing to overcoming systemic diversity and inclusion challenges in food and land use should be prioritised within each transition. Read more here.

  • Harnessing the digital revolution

    Digital technologies and big data can support each of the other transitions through improved supply chain transparency and alignment to economic, social and environmental objectives. Read more here.

  • Strengthening and diversifying rural and regional livelihoods

    Each transition must support stronger, more diverse and more resilient rural and regional livelihoods. Read more here.

    • Outcomes

  • Strong economy and employment

    An increasingly efficient, diversified, productive and resilient food and land use economy, underpinning thriving regional communities.

  • Good health and well-being

    Secure, sufficient, accessible and affordable nutrition for everyone.

  • Healthy climate and environment

    Alignment with latest science-based goals for climate, biodiversity and natural capital.

    • 1. The challenge

    A growing global population creates increased demand for food and fibre. Combined with competition for land, the pressure on Australia’s food and land use sector is increasing. At the same time, climate change is making agriculture and other land uses riskier and more uncertain, and accelerating the already rapid decline of natural systems and biodiversity.


    2. Global transitions

    The global Food and Land Use Coalition, of which our Land Use Futures team is a member, has identified ten transitions to transform the world’s food and land use systems. They are critical to providing adequate amounts of nutritious food for the world’s growing population, within the planet’s climate and ecological boundaries. Each of these is a transformative shift with multiple benefits for the economy, environment and society.


    3. Australian transitions

    The Land Use Futures program is working alongside over twenty other country teams as part of the global Coalition – a community of organisations and individuals committed to the urgent need to transform the way we produce and consume food and use our land for people, nature and climate. Working collaboratively with Australian stakeholders, our team will build upon and adapt this global work to produce a set of transitions tailored for Australia’s unique national and regional circumstances, and steps to achieve them. This series of papers is the first step in the process.


    4. Downloadable versions

    Download the PDF overview of the series
    Download the Word overview of the series


    The series


    02.12.20

    Food and land use transitions: Securing a healthy and productive ocean

    Producing more ocean-based protein from sustainable fishing and aquaculture is possible but depends upon protection and restoration of marine and estuarine ecosystems.

    • Australia

    30.07.20

    Food and land use transitions: Strengthening and diversifying rural and regional livelihoods

    Each transition must support stronger, more diverse and more resilient rural and regional livelihoods Read about how Australia is progressing towards this transition.

    • Australia

    30.07.20

    Food and land use transitions: Protecting and restoring nature

    It is possible to both produce affordable, nutritious food and fibre while protecting and rehabilitating the ecosystems that underpin human health, livelihoods, food security and wellbeing.

    • Australia

    06.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Harnessing the digital revolution

    Digital technologies and big data can support each of the other transitions through improved supply chain transparency and alignment to economic, social and environmental objectives.

    • Australia

    13.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Diversifying sources of protein

    Expanding the range of protein sources could provide health benefits, free up land and water for other uses, and cut methane and greenhouse gas emissions, while opening up new economic opportunities.

    • Australia

    20.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Prioritising diversity and inclusion

    Meaningfully contributing to overcoming systemic diversity and inclusion challenges in food and land use should be prioritised within each transition.

    • Australia

    30.07.20

    Food and land use transitions: Scaling productive and regenerative agriculture

    Changing farming practices and technologies can improve profitability and resilience while reducing and reversing climate, environmental and other impacts.

    • Australia

    06.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Reducing food loss and waste

    Efficiency and optimisation, redistribution of excess food and repurposing of unavoidable food waste can reduce pressure on the climate, water and land resources, while delivering economic benefits.

    • Australia

    06.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Building local loops and linkages

    Circular local food economies can reduce environmental impacts, build resilience and improve security of fresh food by shortening supply chains and repurposing urban waste streams.

    • Australia

    13.08.20

    Food and land use transitions: Promoting healthy diets

    A shift towards more plant-rich diets could meet human health and nutritional needs while minimising environmental impacts.

    • Australia