Sustainable food systems framework – a philosophers perspective

A good framework makes everything easier. Especially when addressing something as complex as our food system. In 2024, I saw a presentation by the philosopher Julian Baggini about his take on the Sustainable Food System Framework.

He was in the proces of releasing his book “How the World Eats” (see this reading list for the details) and provided a sneak peak.

The principle

The principle is simple and universal: Something can only be truly sustainable if everything involved can be utilised indefinitely. As soon as any component involved is depleted or abused (in any timeframe), the system will eventually collapse.

Baggini defined 2 sets of guidelines for the Sustainable food systems framework:

• Topics to be addressed to cover the total system
• Behavioural guidelines or features of a sustainable organisation

Topics to Cover

The inventory of topics to address is as follows:

Holistic – Consider all that is involved in the supply chain. Your food processing step can be fully biological and regenerative but if the other parts of the supply chain is not, that is rendered mute.

Foodcentric – Utilise everything. A peach pit is not waste, it is a valuable raw material. The kernel can be used to create oil or milk alternatives and the fibres from the shell can be used for packaging. Waste is simply a resource in the wrong place.

Pluralistic – Doing this, does not mean you should not be doing that. If one topics is addressed, you are on the right track – now address the rest to become fully sustainable.

Resourceful – Keep innovating and improving. Break through settled habits. Apply existing processing technologies to new raw materials, improve or invent new processes.

Humane – Respect animal welfare at all times. At birth, during life and at the end. This has to be a universal right and impacts the quality of the food.

Just – Always be fair. Secure a dignified livelihood for all involved. Apart from the moral obligation (which should be enough), it ensures continuity and therefore sustainability.

Circular – Everything needs to stay in the system. Grow, digest, compost and fertilise.

Behavioural guidelines

To complete the framework, Baggini added these behavioural guidelines:

Proactive not reactive – Don’t sack your non compliant supplier but intervene and help. Then you right a wrong instead of bringing the wrong into even more difficulty.

Reality not perception – Do what is right, not what is popular. Stay true to your goals and communicate why.

Lead don’t follow – Leaders set the standard and gain a competitive edge.

Red lines over bottom lines – Never ever compromise on your principles. Stay true and believable.

Holistic not ad hoc – Becoming sustainable is not a feature. Go for it all or it is nothing but window dressing or green washing.

Pragmatic not unprincipled – Take a sustainability loss here if it generates greater sustainability gains elsewhere.

Culture not add-on – Don’t do it for the marketing value. Be authentic and create an organisation with truly motivated people.

Keep Reading

This framework is just my take away from the presentation. Baggini’s book “How the World Eats” was released about 6 months after, explores different food cultures, examining not only what people eat but why they eat it and how food relates to culture, identity, and tradition. An inspiring and engaging read!

More books that have shaped the food system discussion in this reading list.