Milena Stefanova and Massimo IannettaENEA Department for SustainabilityHead of «Biotechnologies and Agroindustry» Division

Food systems transformation: what is the role of Food systems transformation: what is the role of pulses in the sustainability challenge?pulses in the sustainability challenge?

New variety of sweet blue lupine, called "Polo", autumn-winter sowing, resistant to water stress and to the most important diseases, high protein content to be used for the production of feed and forage (Chiaretti D&E, Stamigna C., Iannetta M., 2014).

Lupino, varietà “Polo”

Soils and pulses: symbiosis for lifeSoils and pulses: symbiosis for lifeA contribution to the 2030 AgendaA contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Sustainable food systems dimensions Sustainable food systems dimensions

Source: Padilla et.al., Sustainable diets and biodiversity, FAO & Bioversity int., 2010

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

LCA allows to:LCA allows to:

optimize the environmental impact of a product, process or activity along its whole life cycle, from production of the raw material and ingredients to transformation, distribution, consumption and disposal of the residuals, including all movements.

Sustainable Food Systems perspectives Sustainable Food Systems perspectives

• Efficiency perspectiveEfficiency perspective: optimisation of supply side of food system by adoption of new technologies

• Demand restraint perspectiveDemand restraint perspective: volunteer changes in consumption

• System transformation perspectiveSystem transformation perspective: change in relationships between food system stakeholders (nature and social responsability).

• Sustainable food systemsSustainable food systems: need to include options under all perspectives

Linking LCA conceptual model to perspectives: Linking LCA conceptual model to perspectives: does it work for system-transformation? does it work for system-transformation?

Sustainable Food systems metrics Sustainable Food systems metrics

Poverty, Women•Socio-cultural wellbeing

Food•Food affordability and availability•Food nutrient adequacy•Ecosystem stability

Health•Food nutrient adequacy•Food safety•Food affordability and availability

Water, Energy, Climate, Ecosystems•Ecosystem stability•Waste and loss reduction

Economy, Infrastructure•ResilienceSource: Gustafson et al., Sustainability, 2016

What is the role of pulses in the sustainability What is the role of pulses in the sustainability challenge of SDGs?challenge of SDGs?

Goal 2.Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 15. Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Pulses Good practices and Policy solutions Pulses Good practices and Policy solutions have to be implemented taking into account, all together: Sustainable Food Systems Sustainable Food Systems Dimensions Dimensions PerspectivesPerspectivesMetricsMetrics

A multi-level approach that considers all these A multi-level approach that considers all these aspects for a sustainable food system transition.aspects for a sustainable food system transition.

Solutions ?Solutions ?Conceptual ModelConceptual Model: Must help solve undernutrition, not worsening over nutrition. Food systems must maintain ecosystem services.

InputInput

OutputOutput

Good Practices and Policy Solutions (to fill gaps)Good Practices and Policy Solutions (to fill gaps): Research to improve productivity of vegetables, pulses and fruits Programs to promote the use of underutilized crops Programs to enable the use of traditional knowledge systems, diverse

production systems and crop varieties Development of indicators and tools able to evaluate the impacts of

pulses food systems Policy solutions for different contest (international, regional, local)

Mediterranean Diet case studyMediterranean Diet case study

Final considerationsFinal considerations

Thanks for the attention Massimo Iannetta

Sito WEB: www.enea.it

E-mail: massimo.iannetta@enea.it

The challengechallenge is how to make explicit our assumptions, which should be debated in the public domain and not implicitly public domain and not implicitly assumed in scientific assessmentsassumed in scientific assessments.

Therefore it is important to gain sufficiently deep understanding of any impact measurement procedure or modelling tool in order to evaluate which are underlying assumptions and assumptions and conditions for its applicationconditions for its application, before applying it in public policy public policy domaindomain.