Our food system is a large living network of people, plants, and animals that are connected across regions, sectors and scales. This means that a change in one part of the food system can set off an unexpected chain of events with dramatic consequences. Take the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The sharp spike in gas prices due to the war has made fertilizer almost unaffordable. This has driven up costs for farmers at the same time as exports from Ukraine are reducing, all leading to increased food prices.

To understand how to bring about sustainable change in our complex food systems, sustainability scientist Dr Brian Dermody (UU) combines complexity science with transdisciplinary approaches. How can they help us to achieve a safe and secure food system in the future?

In collaboration with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development & Future Food Utrecht (UU).