In a world striving for sustainability, the quest for the perfect food takes center stage. With the recent unveiling of the book “How To Create A Sustainable Food Industry – A Practical Guide to Perfect Food” by dss+, the food industry gears up for a transformative journey towards a sustainable future.

The book, a collaborative effort of esteemed experts in the food industry and academia, stands as a beacon of hope amidst the daunting statistics that shadow the industry. A staggering 31% of greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of global freshwater use, 38% of land use, and 80% of biodiversity loss are attributed to the food industry, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Melissa Barrett, the global managing director of Corporate Impact & Practices at dss+, shares her vision for this publication: “Our goal was to create a practical roadmap, a compass for businesses navigating the complexities of sustainability in the food industry. Through our expertise, data, and tools, we aim to simplify decision-making, providing guidance that fosters sustainable transformation and safeguards our food systems.”

The pressing challenge looms large as the global population is estimated to reach 10 billion by 2050. The United Nations Environment Programme predicts a 60% surge in food demand by that time. Such burgeoning requirements necessitate a complete overhaul of the food and agriculture sector, highlighting the urgency for sustainable practices.

Juan Aguiriano, the group head of sustainability and technology ventures at Kerry Group, poses an imperative question: How do we engineer a food system capable of satisfying the dietary needs of 10 billion people, providing healthy and culturally suitable options, curbing waste, and conserving our planet’s resources?

The solution lies in transformation—transforming consumer demands, business operations, production, supply chains, and labor dynamics. The book serves as a roadmap, merging expertise with human ingenuity, urging leaders to make informed decisions for a sustainable tomorrow.

As the curtain rises on this new narrative, the food industry stands at a crossroads, armed with knowledge, expertise, and a collective resolve to embrace change, charting a course towards perfect food and a sustainable future.

The book is published by Routledge and is available here.