Future Scenarios of more circular food systems: Insights from the Netherlands & Europe

Summary

The global food system has a substantial impact on the environment through e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, land use and nitrogen emissions. Circular food systems aim to efficiently utilise nutrients and biomass by reducing losses and increasing recycling while respecting environmental limits. During this thesis we created food system models capable of assessing the consequences of increased circularity in future food systems on production, consumption, and environmental impacts. For the Dutch and European food systems to become circular, a significant redesign of the food systems is needed. Multiple pathways (as presented in this PhD thesis) can lead to less e.g., greenhouse gas emissions and/or less agricultural land use. However, focusing on transitioning towards circular human diets, and reducing the import of animal feed into the Netherlands are the most effective ways to realise more circular food systems.