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What’s On The Radar

If you’ve ever felt confused by conflicting headlines about food — one day coffee is good for you, the next it’s not — you’re not alone.

Food, nutrition, and sustainability are everywhere right now. They show up in scientific journals, policy debates, climate discussions, supermarket shelves, and of course, all over social media. New terms pop up constantly: ultra-processed foods, regenerative agriculture, plant-based diets, protein transitions, food system transformation. It can feel overwhelming.

This newsletter is here to make sense of it all.

Each edition, we’ll explore the topics that are generating buzz in the scientific community and across public conversations — and unpack what they actually mean. Not in technical language. Not in academic jargon. But in clear, thoughtful, practical terms.

Here’s what you can expect:

Breakdowns of trending food and nutrition debates
Reflections on sustainability claims and what’s backed by evidence
Insights on how nutrition and environmental goals connect (and sometimes clash)
Clarifications on commonly misunderstood concepts
Thoughtful takes that sit somewhere between hype and scepticism

We won’t chase trends just because they’re popular. And we won’t dismiss them either. Instead, we’ll ask:

What does the evidence say?

What is still uncertain?

Why does this matter for people, policies, and the planet?

Food is personal. Nutrition is political. Sustainability is urgent. And the conversations around them are evolving quickly.

In this space, we slow things down just enough to think clearly — without losing sight of what’s timely and relevant.

I’m glad you’re here. Let’s explore what’s on our radar.

Sustainability Simplified - Everything You Need To Know

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the ability to meet present needs -environmental, social, and economic- without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is not just about protecting the planet, it is about ensuring that systems (such as food, health, and production) continue to function effectively in the future. At its core, sustainability is about using resources wisely, minimising harm, and maximising long-term value.

The Three Key Dimensions

Among other equally important dimensions, the three key dimensions covered below are Environment, Economics and Nutrition & Health

Environment

This dimension focuses on how human activities impact natural systems.

Key areas include:

Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions
Water, land, and energy use
Biodiversity and ecosystem health
Waste and circular resource use

Why it matters: Environmental limits define what is possible. Ignoring them leads to resource depletion, ecosystem damage, and long-term instability.

Economics

Economic sustainability ensures that systems are efficient, viable, and resilient over time.

Key areas include:

Cost-effectiveness and efficiency
Sustainable supply chains
Investment and long-term returns
Risk management

Why it matters: Sustainable solutions must be economically feasible. Without financial viability, even the most environmentally sound interventions cannot scale or last.

Nutrition & Health

This dimension focuses on how systems affect human wellbeing.

Key areas include:

Diet quality and nutrient adequacy
Public health outcomes
Food safety and accessibility
Affordability of healthy choices

Why it matters: Sustainability is ultimately about people. Systems that harm health cannot be considered sustainable, even if they are environmentally efficient.

How These Dimensions Interact

Sustainability challenges are rarely simple because these dimensions are interconnected:

Improving environmental outcomes may increase costs
Reducing costs may compromise nutritional quality
Enhancing nutrition may require changes in production systems

This creates trade-offs, but also opportunities for synergies, where one action benefits multiple dimensions.

A sustainability approach focuses on:

Identifying these trade-offs
Quantifying impacts across dimensions
Finding balanced, evidence-based solutions

A Systems Perspective

Sustainability requires thinking in terms of systems, not isolated actions. A systems perspective helps to understand cause–effect relationships, anticipate unintended consequences, and design more effective interventions by considering how different components interact within a larger system rather than in isolation.

For example, in food systems:

Production affects the environment
Prices affect accessibility and diets
Diets affect health outcomes

How Sustainability is Applied in Practice

In real-world settings, sustainability is operationalised through:

Data integration: Combining environmental, economic, and health data
Modelling & analysis: Exploring scenarios and future impacts
Decision-support tools: Dashboards, indicators, and frameworks
Policy & strategy development: Translating evidence into action

This allows organisations to move from concept → measurement → action.

Key Takeaways

Sustainability is about balance across environment, economics, and health
It requires long-term thinking and systems understanding
Trade-offs are inevitable, but can be managed with data and analysis
Practical application depends on clear frameworks, tools, and evidence

Disclaimer: This article is are for information only. Sustainability is complex topic and depends on many factors. Don't use this as professional advice or as the sole reason to change your habits. If you are curious to balance your nutrition with your environmental goals, contact us or a professional near you.

Food and Nutrition

After understanding sustainability in broad terms - balancing environment, economics, and nutrition, the next step is looking at the foods we eat. Not all foods are created equal: they differ in nutritional quality and in their environmental impact.

Nutrient Quality of Foods

Different foods provide different amounts of essential nutrients. For example:

Leafy greens, legumes, and whole grains are nutrient-dense, providing vitamins, minerals, and fiber with relatively low caloric content.
Animal products like dairy, eggs, and fish provide high-quality protein and micronutrients but differ in environmental costs.
Ultra-processed foods may provide calories but are often low in essential nutrients.

Understanding nutrient quality helps us choose foods that maximize human health benefits per portion.

Environmental Impact of Foods System

Producing different foods has very different environmental footprints. Several factors influence the environmental load associated with food production, including where food is produced, how it is transported, and the processing involved.

Production of Food: Greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land requirements can vary significantly depending on where and how food is produced. Climate, farming practices, and resource availability all play a role. For example: When the tomato is grown in an open field, the production emits an average of 80 kg CO2 per ton. If the tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, they emit up to 700 kg CO2 per ton.

Transportation of Food: Transporting food from production areas to consumers also contributes to environmental impact. In fact, about 19% of total food system emissions come from transportation. For example: The transport of fruit and vegetables contributes 36% of transport-related emissions, which is around twice the amount of greenhouse gases released during their production.

Processing and Consumption of Food: Processing can increase environmental impact due to energy use, packaging, and food waste. For example, 130 kg food waste person happens in the European Union, about 47% of this food waste occurs during primary production, manufacturing, retail and food services.

The Key to Sustainable Diets

The intersection of nutrition and environment is where true sustainability lies:

Choosing foods that deliver high nutrient quality to humans
While minimizing environmental costs like greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land use

This approach emphasizes more nutrient per environmental impact, rather than simply “plant-based” or “local” without context.

Practical Tips

Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods: vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and moderate amounts of animal products.
Prioritize low-environmental-impact options: legumes, seasonal vegetables, and sustainably sourced foods.
Reduce ultra-processed foods: these often provide low nutrition relative to environmental cost.
Balance portion and frequency: even high-impact foods can fit into a sustainable diet if consumed thoughtfully.

Key Takeaway

Sustainability in food is about smart, informed choices: foods that support human nutrition and protect the planet. By considering both nutrient quality and environmental cost, we can make every meal a step toward a healthier and more sustainable future.

Disclaimer: This article and figure are for information only. The link between nutrition and the environment is complex and depends on many factors. Don't use this as professional advice or as the sole reason to change your eating habits. If you are curious to balance your nutrition with your environmental goals, contact us or a professional near you.

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