Work

Options for reforming agricultural subsidies from health, climate, and economic perspectives

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: Agricultural subsidies are an important factor for influencing food production and therefore part of a food system that is seen as neither healthy nor sustainable. Here we analyse options for reforming agricultural subsidies in line with health and climate-change objectives on one side, and economic objectives on the other. Using an integrated modelling framework including economic, environmental, and health assessments, we find that on a global scale several reform options could lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in population health without reductions in economic welfare. Those include a repurposing of up to half of agricultural subsidies to support the production of foods with beneficial health and environmental characteristics, including fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products, and combining such repurposing with a more equal distribution of subsidy payments globally. The findings suggest that reforming agricultural subsidy schemes based on health and climate-change objectives can be economically feasible and contribute to transitions towards healthy and sustainable food systems.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27645-2

Authors: M. Springmann, F. Freund

Institutions: University of Oxford, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Climate action, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $5,890