Food is the foundation of human development and prosperity, but its production chain can also jeopardize Earth’s biosphere and, consequently, human health if its footprint on ecosystems is not timely and adequately contained. The relationship between humans and environment should be assessed considering the complex and convoluted structure of the current food system. Its establishment dates back several millennia to the latest post-glacial period, but its complexity had risen in recent decades starting with the Green Revolution in the 1940s and through the subsequent agroecological transition. The redesigned food production ecosystem has a deep impact on human health with the opposite effects of reducing malnutrition and related (mainly infectious) diseases, and increasing overweight and obesity that are coupled with non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, new evidence shows that environmental pollution is also associated to food production. For instance, antimicrobial resistance is strongly associated with the abuse of these medicines for food-producing plants and animals aiming at maximizing production. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted in 2015 by all Member States seek to achieve sustainability also with regard of food production, supply, and consumption. This global, cross-sectoral, and multidisciplinary framework provides the opportunity to pursue an economy at societal disposal and in keeping with the Earth’s safe operating space.

Agrofood System and Human Health / S. Bocchi, S. Villa, F. Orlando, L. Grimoldi, M.C.B. Raviglione (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SERIES). - In: Environmental Alteration Leads to Human Disease : A Planetary Health Approach / [a cura di] V. Ingegnoli, F. Lombardo, G. La Torre. - [s.l] : Springer, 2022 Jan 01. - ISBN 978-3-030-83159-2. - pp. 131-163 [10.1007/978-3-030-83160-8_6]

Agrofood System and Human Health

S. Bocchi
Primo
;
S. Villa
Secondo
;
F. Orlando;L. Grimoldi
Penultimo
;
M.C.B. Raviglione
Ultimo
2022

Abstract

Food is the foundation of human development and prosperity, but its production chain can also jeopardize Earth’s biosphere and, consequently, human health if its footprint on ecosystems is not timely and adequately contained. The relationship between humans and environment should be assessed considering the complex and convoluted structure of the current food system. Its establishment dates back several millennia to the latest post-glacial period, but its complexity had risen in recent decades starting with the Green Revolution in the 1940s and through the subsequent agroecological transition. The redesigned food production ecosystem has a deep impact on human health with the opposite effects of reducing malnutrition and related (mainly infectious) diseases, and increasing overweight and obesity that are coupled with non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, new evidence shows that environmental pollution is also associated to food production. For instance, antimicrobial resistance is strongly associated with the abuse of these medicines for food-producing plants and animals aiming at maximizing production. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted in 2015 by all Member States seek to achieve sustainability also with regard of food production, supply, and consumption. This global, cross-sectoral, and multidisciplinary framework provides the opportunity to pursue an economy at societal disposal and in keeping with the Earth’s safe operating space.
Agroecology; Sustainability; Agenda 2030; Interdisciplinary; Multidisciplinary
Settore AGR/02 - Agronomia e Coltivazioni Erbacee
Settore MED/42 - Igiene Generale e Applicata
1-gen-2022
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/921365
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