Assessment and Communication of Climate Impacts of Food

Food production and consumption account for a large share of global greenhouse gas emissions and have a negative impact on biodiversity. Although there are already many labels that are supposed to support more sustainable purchasing, these only cover partial aspects of sustainability. Companies and consumers are unable to recognise the criteria behind them. Needs-based communication channels are lacking. The project enabled companies and consumers to inform themselves about complex impacts when consuming and purchasing and thus to make more sustainable decisions. To this end, a target group-oriented tool was developed, which was piloted in Germany, Paraguay, South Africa and Thailand and will be applied globally in the long term. In this way, more sustainable purchasing decisions promote the demand for more resource-efficient products within the planetary impact limits.

Project data

Countries
Paraguay, South Africa, Thailand
IKI funding
3,332,608.00 €
Duration
08/2021 till 12/2024
Status
completed
Implementing organisation
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Germany
Political Partner
  • Diverse climate change relevant institutions in the respective partner countries/Diverse klimarelevante Institutionen in den entsprechenden Partnerländern
Implementing Partner
  • corsus - corporate sustainability GmbH
  • TMG Research gGmbH

State of implementation/results

  • Project completed.
  • On September 20, 2021, the official kick-off event of the project took place in Berlin, together with representatives of the BMUV, ZUG and the partners TMG Research gGmbH and corsus - corporate sustainability GmbH.
  • In the first few months, the project structure was established and networking with various relevant stakeholders was initiated.
  • In addition, the project was presented on September 24, 2021 as part of the United Nations Food Systems Summit at an unofficial Quota side event on the topic of “Omni-Framework - unleashing consumer power”.
  • The project website received the Red Dot Design Award in the Corporate Design & Identity category in November 2022.
  • International transformation pathways for sustainable food systems: So far, four reports have been published as part of the FORESEE (4C) report series. The last report is expected to be published in fall 2024. The FORESEE (4C) report series focuses on the transformation of food systems amidst the challenges of climate, (post-)Covid-19, conflict and costs related to social and environmental externalities. Report 1 provides an overview of the international policy landscape and the impact of the 4Cs on agricultural and food systems.Report 2 discusses the debate and the different perspectives on the transformation of agricultural and food systems. Report 3 identifies blind spots that hinder change and makes recommendations on how these should be addressed. Report 4 argues for a multi-level governance approach and presents a decision support tool for transformation pathways. Report 5 highlights the True Cost Accounting approach as a way to improve decision-making and economic transformation in support of sustainable development. The results of the reports were presented at the UNFCCC COP27 and COP28 at various side events, as well as at the German side event for the HLPF 2024 and at numerous webinars and events.
  • The reports of the FORESEE (4C) series are the results of two scoping studies on the topics “State of the Debate on Food Systems Transformation” and “Drivers and Agents of the Transformation of Agrifood Systems” as well as three expert workshops.
  • The LCA case studies in Paraguay, South Africa, Thailand and Germany were carried out. In South Africa, the case study on fish could only be prepared on the basis of generic data; the same applies to the case study on mate in Paraguay.
  • Prototype “Food Impact Tool - FIT”: The programming of the FIT prototype is almost complete, the documentation of the programming and the guidelines are being developed in parallel. The prototype makes it possible to calculate a single score for the environmental impact of a foodstuff and to display the environmental impact for individual impact categories.
  • Development of the prototype of the communication tool: An initial consumer survey was conducted in the four countries and consumers were asked about the relevant sustainability impacts of food. The political instruments for sustainable nutrition required in addition to a communication tool were summarized in a study (publication to follow).
  • Stakeholder workshops were held in Paraguay, South Africa, Thailand and Germany in 2023. The aim was to exchange views on the sustainability impacts of food relevant to the communication tool.
  • The design prototype (click dummy) was completed in early summer 2024. The roadshow to test the presentation of country specifics took place between April and July in Paraguay, South Africa, Thailand and Germany. A consumer survey was also conducted in the four countries. (“front end” of the communication tool).
  • The project regularly publishes relevant articles, which can be found on the project website (see links).

Latest Update:
02/2025

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