The just food transition can be achieved through cooperation between all actors in the food system and firm public guidance Our food system suffers from many intertwined sustainability problems. To solve them, we need a fundamental change in the whole food system: a food transition. In order for such a transition to be fair to everyone, we need:
• Comprehensive policies that support innovation and the transition towards new sustainable practices and demolish unsustainable structures.
• To ensure that the adverse effects of the transition do not become too
severe for any population group or activities essential to food security. The fairness of a single policy measure can be improved by alleviating and compensating for its disproportionate drawbacks.
• Education and training in new fields, renewed study modules and
counselling. Third sector organisations play a key role in supporting primary producers and different population groups.
• A strategy for a sustainable and just food system
that has learned from the past, is stronger than before and has been prepared in an inclusive way, and a government report based on that strategy.
Significant emission reductions require simultaneous action on different transition pathways in the food system.
70% reduction
2050
Achieving reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring nutritional adequacy of the Finnish diet and biodiversity of agricultural lands
2035
Land use-driven pathway Reducing the climate impact of the food system in Finland requires extensive measures on peatlands. The most effective means of reducing emissions is to remove peatlands from cultivation, as these are responsible for almost half of the emissions in the food system.
33% reduction
Diet driven pathway
Technology driven pathway
Reducing the climate impact requires a significant reduction in the consumption of livestock products, while at the same time maintaining the carbon stock in fields. A transition to a more plant- and fish-based diet that meets energy needs would improve nutrition at the level of the whole population.
Changes in production methods and energy use will also help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the food system. New food innovations and value chains help the whole food system renew itself.
Just Food Policy Brief – Policy recommendations for just food system transition ● October 2022 ● www.justfood.fi ● @justfood-stn