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Nutrients
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Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems
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Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 2632

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mēgan M. Patton-López

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Interests: community nutrition; implementation science; child and adolescent health; healthy eating and active living; health equity
Dr. Emily H. Belarmino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, Marsh Life Sciences, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Interests: public health nutrition; food system-nutrition linkages
Dr. Zubaida Qamar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Family, Interiors, Nutrition, and Apparel, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
Interests: food security; sustainable food systems; health equity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable and resilient food systems are designed to meet community food and nutrition security goals in ways that support a thriving economy, society, and natural environment. Beyond simply producing enough nutritious food to meet household needs, sustainable food systems prioritize equitable access by addressing barriers such as cost, distance, and cultural preferences, ensuring that all community members are served. These systems also emphasize the health of the ecosystems where food is grown and produced, striving to create and distribute food in environmentally sustainable and regenerative ways.

Achieving sustainable and resilient food systems requires multi-disciplinary, interconnected actions across local, national, regional, and global levels. This includes coordinated interdisciplinary efforts across agriculture, health, education, policy, and community planning sectors. Although international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, advocate for a comprehensive food systems approach, there is a critical need for evidence of this approach at the local, state, and regional levels. This evidence can help practitioners and policymakers develop food systems that effectively respond to community needs, support local economies, promote public health, and foster resilience in the face of environmental and economic challenges.

For this Special Issue, we invite submissions of reviews and original research that (1) describe innovative programs, policies, and interventions that enhance food and nutrition security, with an emphasis on economic, social, and environmental sustainability; (2) explore collaborative, multi-sector efforts that apply food systems and agroecological approaches to improve food sovereignty in ways that are culturally responsive, environmentally sustainable, health promoting, and that support local economies; and (3) evaluate the goals, participant outcomes, and broader impact of food-based education programs, examining how these programs contribute to the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of food systems.

Dr. Mēgan M. Patton-López
Dr. Emily H. Belarmino
Dr. Zubaida Qamar
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable food systems
  • resilient food systems
  • sustainability
  • nutrition security

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1128 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Role of Food Security in the Context of Quality of Life in Underserved Communities: The ISAC Approach
by Terrence W. Thomas and Murat Cankurt
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2521; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152521 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 401
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Quality of life (QOL) is a multifaceted concept involving a variety of factors which define the overall well-being of individuals. Food security, which implies a resilient food system, is one factor that is central to the calculus of the QOL status of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Quality of life (QOL) is a multifaceted concept involving a variety of factors which define the overall well-being of individuals. Food security, which implies a resilient food system, is one factor that is central to the calculus of the QOL status of a community considering that food is a staple of life. Advancing food security as a strategy for attaining sustained improvement in community QOL hinges on recognizing that food security is embedded in a matrix of other factors that work with it to generate the QOL the community experiences. The lived experience of the community defines the community’s QOL value matrix and the relative position of food security in that value matrix. Our thesis is that the role of food security in the lived experience of low-income communities depends on the position food security is accorded relative to other factors in the QOL value matrix of the community. Methods: This study employed a multimethod approach to define the QOL value matrix of low-income Guilford County residents, identifying the relative position of the value components and demographic segments based on priority ranking. First, an in-depth interview was conducted and then a telephone survey (280 sample) was used for collecting data. The ISAC Analysis Procedure and Best–Worst Scaling methods were used to identify and rank components of the QOL value matrix in terms of their relative impact on QOL. Results: The analysis revealed that spiritual well-being is the most important contributor to QOL, with a weight of 0.23, followed by access to health services (0.21) and economic opportunities (0.16), while food security has a moderate impact with 0.07. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need for targeted policy interventions that consider the specific needs of different demographic segments to effectively improve QOL and inform the design of resilient food systems that reflect the lived experiences of low-income communities. Food security policies must be integrated with broader quality of life interventions, particularly for unemployed, low-educated, and single individuals, to ensure that a resilient food system effectively reduces inequities and address community-specific vulnerabilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems)
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17 pages, 799 KB  
Article
Home and Wild Food Procurement Were Associated with Greater Intake of Fruits and Vegetables During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern New England in a Cross-Sectional Study
by Ashley C. McCarthy, Ashleigh Angle, Sam Bliss, Farryl Bertmann, Emily H. Belarmino, Kelsey Rose and Meredith T. Niles
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1627; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101627 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 642
Abstract
Background: Participation in home and wild food procurement (HWFP) activities (i.e., gardening, hunting, fishing, foraging, preserving food, raising livestock, and raising poultry for eggs) skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Procuring food through HWFP activities may have important food security and nutrition benefits, while [...] Read more.
Background: Participation in home and wild food procurement (HWFP) activities (i.e., gardening, hunting, fishing, foraging, preserving food, raising livestock, and raising poultry for eggs) skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Procuring food through HWFP activities may have important food security and nutrition benefits, while also enhancing food sovereignty and food system resilience. This cross-sectional study examined the effect of HWFP activities on food security status, fruit and vegetable intake, and meat consumption. Methods: We used data collected in 2021 and 2022 from adults (n = 2001) through two statewide representative surveys in Maine and Vermont, United States. Dietary intake was assessed using the Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Food security status was assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 6-item short-form food security module. We analyzed the data using linear regression, logistic regression, and ordinal logistic regression models. Results: Sixty-one percent of respondents engaged in HWFP activities; the majority of those gardened. Households engaging in most individual HWFP activities had greater odds of being food insecure. HWFP engagement was positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption. Specifically, gardening was associated with an additional one cup-equivalent in fruit and vegetable consumption per week compared to respondents that did not garden. Furthermore, when exploring these relationships disaggregated by food security status, we find that this effect is stronger for food insecure households than food secure households. Respondents from households that hunted were more likely to eat wild game meat and also consumed red and white meat more frequently compared to households that did not hunt. Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate potential nutrition and food security benefits from engaging in HWFP activities. Future research should continue to examine a full suite of HWFP activities and their relationship to diet, health, food security, and food sovereignty. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems)
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Review

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19 pages, 391 KB  
Review
Nutritional Intervention Programs for Sustainability: A Scoping Review on Full Food Utilization and the Clean Leftovers Reuse
by Emanuely Rocha de Souza, Mona N. BinMowyna, Hani A. Alfheeaid, António Raposo, Pâmela Gracielle da Fonseca, Maria João Lima, Najla A. Albaridi, Thamer Alslamah, Nada Alqarawi and Nathalia Sernizon Guimarães
Nutrients 2025, 17(11), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17111829 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 1053
Abstract
Background: Food waste is a significant global issue with environmental, social, and economic consequences. In 2022, approximately 1.05 billion tons of food were wasted worldwide, with 220 million tons lost during the production and processing stages. Strategies to reduce food waste include full [...] Read more.
Background: Food waste is a significant global issue with environmental, social, and economic consequences. In 2022, approximately 1.05 billion tons of food were wasted worldwide, with 220 million tons lost during the production and processing stages. Strategies to reduce food waste include full food utilization and the reuse of clean leftovers, which promote food security, efficient resource use, and the valorization of nutrients found in food. Objective: The aim of this study was to map existing scientific literature on nutritional intervention programs that incorporate full food utilization and the reuse of clean leftovers as tools for promoting sustainability and reducing food waste. The review seeks to consolidate existing knowledge, support public policy development, and encourage the adoption of sustainable food practices. Methods: A scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual and following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The search was conducted in four scientific databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Virtual Health Library) and included articles published between 2014 and 2025. Intervention studies promoting full utilization of plant-based foods and the reuse of clean leftovers were included. Results: After analyzing 2268 studies, 14 relevant studies were selected, with interventions including culinary workshops and educational programs on using parts of food typically discarded, such as peels and seeds. These programs were successful in reducing waste and promoting more sustainable and nutritious diets. Conclusions: Nutritional intervention programs that promote full food utilization and clean leftover reuse are effective in reducing waste and fostering sustainable diets. To maximize their impact, these practices should be integrated into public policies and scaled in institutional settings such as schools, hospitals, and community kitchens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems)
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