The intricate interaction of environmental issues, financial concerns, and societal well-being calls for a swift and transformative response. On this period of change, collaboration and knowledge-sharing usually are not simply virtues; they’re indispensable instruments for accelerating the tempo of innovation towards a extra sustainable meals system.
On the coronary heart of this name for innovation is the popularity that our present practices usually are not sustainable in the long term. We face a vital juncture the place our selections will form not solely the way forward for meals however the well being of our planet and communities.
The necessity to make sure the response is inclusive and collaborative is on the coronary heart of this yr’s World Meals Day message: “Water is Life, Water is Meals. Go away No One Behind”. On this spirit, and recognising the necessity for pressing change, IFIS Publishing has launched IFIS Sustainability in help of FAO’s World Meals Day and the Sustainable Improvement Targets.
IFIS Sustainability is a free Abstracting and Indexing (A&I) database created by the not-for-profit academic writer. It isn’t merely a repository of scientific analysis; it’s a catalyst for change. The revolutionary platform presents a curated assortment of over 10,000 data, regularly up to date to supply a rolling 6-month snapshot of the newest in sustainable meals science.
It’s the world’s first free database of sustainable meals science. However what actually units it aside is the meticulous vetting course of led by IFIS Publishing’s staff of meals and information scientists. By excluding predatory content material, the database ensures that customers entry reliable, dependable data—a vital basis for knowledgeable decision-making.
“It’s completely vital that F&B innovators have entry to the newest, reliable science to be taught from and construct on the work of others and convey folks collectively in collaborative efforts,” Cindy Steward (PhD), International Innovation and R&D Govt and IFT Previous President, famous.
Steward, who’s a member of the IFIS Company Advisory Board, continued: “The options require multi-disciplinary approaches. It’s nice to have a centered database for scientists and others to simply entry sound science.”
Multidisciplinary database exhibits key areas of analysis
As we delve into the urgent want for sustainable meals innovation, it’s important to acknowledge the important thing themes shaping present analysis. IFIS Sustainability mirrors the trade’s deal with these vital areas, providing a glimpse into the dynamic panorama of sustainable meals science.
Economics of Sustainability: Researchers are exploring sensible approaches that not solely tackle environmental issues but in addition make financial sense inside the broader meals market. Attaining sustainability requires options which might be financially viable and scalable.
Technological Developments: The database displays a eager curiosity in leveraging expertise for extra environment friendly and sustainable practices in meals processing, packaging, and different areas. Improvements in expertise play a pivotal function in reshaping the way forward for meals.
Coverage-Pushed Sustainability: The emphasis on regulatory frameworks highlights the acknowledgment that sustainable objectives want supportive insurance policies. Advocating for and growing insurance policies that promote sustainability throughout the meals provide chain is a key focus.
Ecological Issues: Understanding and mitigating the environmental affect of meals manufacturing is paramount. Researchers are exploring methods to cut back the ecological footprint of agriculture and meals processing, selling practices which might be environmentally pleasant.
Shopper-Centric Approaches: Customers play a vital function in driving sustainability. The database delves into understanding how shopper behaviour will be influenced to help sustainable selections, whether or not by way of clear labelling or strategic advertising.
Improvements in Agriculture: Sustainable farming practices are on the coronary heart of sustainable meals innovation. The database showcases improvements in precision agriculture, natural farming strategies, and different approaches selling sustainable agriculture whereas making certain meals safety.
Plant-Primarily based Options: Reflecting the rising curiosity in plant-based diets, the database explores the environmental advantages of plant-based diets and sustainable plant-based merchandise. It addresses the challenges and alternatives related to a shift towards plant-based consumption.
The launch of IFIS Sustainability comes at a vital time for the meals system, which is going through myriad challenges as innovators work to transition towards sustainable strategies of manufacturing and consumption.
“Probably the most urgent sustainability problem for the F&B trade is for corporations and organizations to determine, and regularly replace, the proof base for probably the most sustainable components, processes, and merchandise,” defined Professor Colin Dennis, chairman of IFIS Publishing and the Management Improvement Committee at IFT.
Within the pursuit of a sustainable future, collaboration turns into our most potent weapon. The choice to supply IFIS Sustainability as a free-to-access instrument aligns with IFIS Publishing’s mission to champion the data wants of the meals science neighborhood. By breaking down monetary boundaries, the database turns into a shared useful resource, inviting researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to contribute to a collective effort for a sustainable and water-efficient meals system.
Dennis continued: “It’s important that innovators have entry to the newest reliable science and expertise to keep away from losing assets on re-inventing what’s already recognized. IFIS Sustainability offers entry to a professionally curated and extremely searchable database of reliable science and expertise and is a superb useful resource for such a objective.”
Sustainable meals science innovation is not only a pathway to a extra resilient and moral meals system; it’s a shared accountability. As we navigate the intricate internet of challenges, the ability to innovate sustainably lies not in isolation however in our potential to construct on our collective information—a information that IFIS Sustainability is devoted to curating and sharing for the higher good.
Free of charge entry to the IFIS Sustainability platform, register right here.
