Planetary Boundaries and the Food System

The future of life on Earth is increasingly uncertain as human activities push the planet beyond its limits, known as planetary boundaries. The Planetary boundaries framework identifies nine critical Earth system processes that regulate the state of the planet, and the thresholds within which humanity can safely operate. By exceeding these boundaries, we risk triggering irreversible environmental changes that could lead to catastrophic consequences for both human civilization and natural ecosystems (Rockström et al., 2009).

As of 2024, six of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached, as reported in the 2024 Planetary Health Check (Caesar et al., 2024). The global food system, one of the largest drivers of these transgressions, plays a central role in driving changes that affect climate stability, biodiversity, water resources, and soil health. Urgent and transformative action is needed to ensure a sustainable future for humanity and the planet.

What Are Planetary Boundaries?

The concept of planetary boundaries was first introduced in 2009 by a team of scientists led by Johan Rockström and has since been updated. This framework now identifies nine crucial Earth system processes that determine the state or the health of our planet (Rockström et al., 2009). These planetary limits provide a “safe operating space” for humanity, enabling development and growth without causing irreversible environmental damage. When these boundaries are breached, the likelihood of severe environmental disruptions increases.

The nine planetary boundaries include:

1. Climate Change: Driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO₂, climate change is a critical planetary limit. It has already been exceeded, leading to global warming and climate instability (Caesar et al., 2024).
2. Biosphere Integrity: This boundary covers genetic diversity and ecosystem functionality. The ongoing loss of biodiversity compromises the resilience of ecosystems and their ability to provide essential services (Caesar et al., 2024).
3. Ocean Acidification: The absorption of excess CO₂ by the ocean leads to increased acidity, which threatens marine organisms, particularly those that rely on calcium carbonate for shell formation (Rockström et al., 2009).
4. Ozone Depletion: The depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, primarily due to CFCs, allows harmful UV radiation to reach Earth’s surface, posing risks to human health and ecosystems (Rockström et al., 2009).
5. Atmospheric Aerosol Pollution: Aerosols from burning fossil fuels and biomass affect climate, cloud formation, and human health, representing a significant challenge to planetary limits (Caesar et al., 2024).
6. Freshwater Use: Over-extraction of freshwater, particularly for agricultural purposes, threatens water resources and the ecosystems that depend on them (Caesar et al., 2024).
7. Biogeochemical Flows: The cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus have been severely disrupted by human activities, particularly through fertilizer use. This leads to nutrient runoff, polluting water bodies and causing dead zones in aquatic ecosystems (Caesar et al., 2024).
8. Land-System Change: The conversion of forests and other ecosystems into agricultural land and urban areas has caused significant biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruption, crossing a critical planetary boundary (Rockström et al., 2009).
9. Introduction of Novel Entities: Synthetic chemicals, plastics, and other human-made substances can have unpredictable and harmful effects on the environment, posing a long-term risk to ecosystems (Caesar et al., 2024).

The Current State of Planetary Boundaries

As of 2024, six of the nine planetary boundaries have been crossed, according to the 2024 Planetary Health Check Report (Caesar et al., 2024). These include climate change, biosphere integrity, biogeochemical flows, land-system change, freshwater use, and the introduction of novel entities. The transgression of these planetary limits indicates that human activities are exerting immense pressure on Earth’s systems, pushing them toward instability.

One of the most alarming trends is the acceleration of climate change, with CO₂ levels higher than they have been at any point in the last 15 million years. This warming has profound effects on weather patterns, rising sea levels, and the frequency of extreme weather events (Caesar et al., 2024). The continued loss of biosphere integrity, with species extinction rates far exceeding natural levels, is reducing ecosystems’ resilience and limiting their ability to adapt to environmental changes.

Although ocean acidification has not yet crossed its threshold, it is dangerously close. As the oceans absorb more CO₂, their ability to act as a carbon sink diminishes, which harms marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs and shell-forming organisms (Caesar et al., 2024). Meanwhile, biogeochemical flows have been significantly altered due to excessive fertilizer use, creating dead zones in oceans and freshwater systems.

The remaining three planetary boundaries—ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, and ocean acidification—are still within safe limits but remain vulnerable. The recovery of the ozone layer is progressing but requires ongoing international cooperation to ensure its full restoration (Caesar et al., 2024).

The Role of the Food System in Breaching Planetary Boundaries

The food system, often overlooked compared to the use of fossil fuels, is among the largest drivers of environmental degradation and a major factor in exceeding planetary boundaries. Overall, almost half of all global food production currently depends on planetary boundaries transgressions. (Kummu et al., 2017). Agriculture alone occupies 40% of the Earth’s ice-free land and consumes more than 70% of global freshwater resources (Caesar et al., 2024). The environmental impacts of food production are far-reaching and extend across multiple planetary limits:

1. Biosphere Integrity: Agricultural expansion is a leading cause of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. By converting forests and other ecosystems into farmland, humans fragment habitats and drive species to extinction (Caesar et al., 2024).
2. Land-System Change: Agriculture is the leading cause of land-use change, which disrupts ecosystems and contributes to the transgression of this boundary. The conversion of forests, grasslands, and wetlands into agricultural land contributes to significant land-system changes. This transformation disrupts ecosystems and is a primary factor in the transgression of this boundary.
3. Freshwater Use: Producing food is the world’s most water-intensive human activity and over 90% of human use of freshwater is for food, from production to processing (McDermid et al., 2023). Irrigated agriculture consumes the majority of global freshwater, leading to the depletion of vital aquifers and the reduction of river flow, threatening water supplies and aquatic ecosystems (Caesar et al., 2024).
4. Biogeochemical Flows: The excessive application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers disrupts natural nutrient cycles. This not only pollutes water bodies but also causes harmful algal blooms, dead zones, and significant biodiversity loss (Caesar et al., 2024).
5. Climate Change: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food production (including agriculture, forestry, and other land use) contribute to approximately 30% of total GHG emissions (Willett et al., 2019).

Willett et al. (2019) have identified preliminary planetary boundaries related to the food system, addressing only five of them. While more detailed assessments are underway, the following implications can already be observed:

1. Ocean Acidification: Agricultural runoff containing fertilizers leads to nutrient loading in oceans, contributing to ocean acidification affecting marine ecosystems.
2. Atmospheric Aerosol Loading: Practices such as crop residue burning release aerosols into the atmosphere, impacting both air quality and climate systems.
3. Introduction of Novel Entities: The use of synthetic pesticides and antibiotics in agriculture has long-term effects on ecosystems and contributes to the introduction of novel entities that disrupt natural processes.
4. Ozone Depletion: While agriculture is not the primary driver of stratospheric ozone layer depletion (which is largely due to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), it plays a significant role primarily through the emissions of ozone precursors, such as nitrogen oxides released by fertilizers and certain farming practices.

The message is clear, local actions impact the planet, and a planet under pressure can impact everyone, everywhere. If our oceans die, glaciers continue to melt, and we keep depleting the soil and biodiversity, it will drastically affect our lives. We are in this together and we need to start living in harmony with the planet.

Sustainable Food System and Planetary Boundaries

To keep Earth within its planetary boundaries, the food system must prioritize sustainability through three essential measures:

1. Adopting Sustainable Farming Practices: The shift to sustainable farming practices is crucial to mitigate the impacts on Earth’s systems and bring food production back within safe planetary limits.
2. Embracing Plant-Based Diets: Encouraging a shift toward plant-based diets, as recommended by the EAT-Lancet Commission, can reduce the environmental footprint of food production, particularly the emissions and land-use changes associated with meat and dairy production (Willett et al., 2019).
3. Reducing Food Waste: Cutting food waste in half would significantly reduce the pressure on agricultural systems, conserving resources and mitigating climate impacts related to food production and disposal (Caesar et al., 2024).

LoginEKO’S Solutions for a Sustainable Food System

What we need now are practical solutions so that everybody in the agrifood sector can act on making the transition towards a more sustainable future. At LoginEKO, we’re developing practical, scalable solutions to help farmers, food producers, and consumers transition to a sustainable food system. By making this knowledge and tools accessible, we aim to drive meaningful change for the benefit of current and future generations.

By promoting sustainable farming practices like crop rotation, conservation tillage, and agroforestry, we aim to improve biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. We recognize that farmers face challenges when transitioning from conventional to sustainable practices. That’s why our team of agronomists is creating concrete solutions to ease this transition, focusing on large-scale, sustainable production methods.

Our efforts are already yielding results: across our 3,700 hectares of organically certified fields, we produce more than 8,500 tons of organic crops annually. This success demonstrates the effectiveness of sustainable farming practices, which phase out synthetic fertilizers and pesticides while maintaining healthy soil and pest control.

LoginEKO’s Food Innovations for Sustainable Lifestyles

The EAT-Lancet Commission provides a clear framework for transforming global food systems within planetary boundaries. A key recommendation is to shift toward plant-based diets, increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts while reducing red meat, processed foods, and sugar. This transition could lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce land and water use, and protect biodiversity (Willett et al., 2019). By adopting more plant-based diets, we can ease the strain on resource-intensive livestock farming, which drives deforestation, water consumption, and methane emissions.

At LoginEKO, we understand that changing diets can be challenging in today’s fast-paced world. Learning to prepare new plant-based meals or comparing the protein content of a chickpea burger to a beef burger takes time, which is often in short supply.

To address this, our Food Development team created Njamito, a healthy, eco-friendly product designed for busy lifestyles. Following its success in Slovenia, we’re now expanding our sustainable solutions for the food industry, helping food companies develop climate-friendly products that benefit both human health and the planet.

We firmly believe that by transforming our food systems, adopting sustainable diets, and embracing sustainable farming practices, we can ensure a more stable and resilient future for Earth and humanity.

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