Food Sustainability Measures and Metrics: Comprehensive Report

This report analyzes food sustainability measures and metrics, highlighting the environmental impact of food production and consumption. It contrasts store-bought food with farm products, emphasizing the negative effects of the former, such as nutrient loss, chemical additives, high prices, and environmental pollution from hybridisation, transportation, and inefficient energy use. The report introduces the foodprint index as a tool to raise awareness, identify solutions, and promote sustainable food systems. The index focuses on sustainable agriculture, food waste, and nutritional challenges, encouraging practices like reducing pesticide use, supporting small farmers, promoting seasonal foods, and monitoring food manufacturing and distribution. The report connects these issues to broader Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, and consumption patterns, emphasizing the role of the foodprint index in addressing food sustainability challenges and promoting responsible practices.

Running head: FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND METRICS
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND METRICS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND METRICS
One of the major concerns these days is regarding food and its quality. There is a vast
difference between store-bought food and the products directly sold by the farmers. The
latter has an excellent condition as it directly comes from farms without any chemicals being
used. It is more nutritious as it is grown in a healthy and natural environment. The food
expectancy is also high as it can be stored for an extended period. However, farm products
are losing their value with the onset of store-bought food as it is more convenient and
instantly edible. However, there are several environmental issues related to the latter. Foods
are kept in refrigerators for a very long time due to which half of the nutrients are lost that are
needed for the body. To keep the fresh food chemicals are added that is harmful to people as
it might lead to many diseases (Aschemann, Hooge & Normann, 2016). The price of the food
products is quite high when compared to farmer sold products. The food is of poor quality.
Unlike farmer products, these food are not organic so it also impacts the environment. The
store-bought food products are hybridised that pollute the environment and affects the soil.
Transporting of food involves the transmission of contaminants like nitrogen compounds and
ammonia pollution that affect the healthy plant as well as animal life (Cavin et al., 2016).
Stores do not make use of the energy-efficient lighting that leads to environmental issues.
Unlike farm food, store-bought food cannot be recycled; that is another environmental
concern.
The food print index focuses on raising the awareness of the community regarding
food paradoxes and identifying the concrete solutions to follow the rules of Sustainable
Development Goals. The index motivates, educate and inspire the society regarding food
sustainability and its importance. The food print index highlights the acceptable practices for
policymakers, stakeholders, private sector and media to design sustainable food development
system that would help in food sustainability and prevent wastage of food. The food print
index focuses on the issues of sustainable agriculture, food loss as well as waste and

2
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND METRICS
nutritional challenge (Conrad et al., 2018). These three categories were defined in the Milan
Protocol. Reducing the use of artificial pesticide would help in food sustainability. The index
ensures that small farmers are given equal opportunities to trade. They consider the actual
cost of the food. And promote awareness about wasting food along with its environmental
impacts. They also encourage the selling of seasonal food and vegetables that would help in
waste management regarding food. Foodprint index takes care of the manufacturing and
distribution of food to the market. They monitor and address the issue of food sustainability
(Alkon & Guthman, 2017). The index does not only limit itself to SDG’s but is also linked to
climate change, sustainable cities, consumption as well as production, good health and
poverty. The food print index takes care of the quality and distribution of food and checks
where there is maximum wastage of food. Therefore, the foodprint index will help in coping
with the issues and problems listed in the above paragraph.

3
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES AND METRICS
References
Alkon, A., & Guthman, J. (Eds.). (2017). The new food activism: Opposition, cooperation,
and collective action. Univ of California Press.
Aschemann-Witzel, J., de Hooge, I., & Normann, A. (2016). Consumer-related food waste:
Role of food marketing and retailers and potential for action. Journal of International
Food & Agribusiness Marketing, 28(3), 271-285.
Cavin, C., Cottenet, G., Blancpain, C., Bessaire, T., Frank, N., & Zbinden, P. (2016). Food
adulteration: From vulnerability assessment to new analytical solutions. CHIMIA
International Journal for Chemistry, 70(5), 329-333.
Conrad, Z., Niles, M. T., Neher, D. A., Roy, E. D., Tichenor, N. E., & Jahns, L. (2018).
Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability. PloS
one, 13(4).