Intersections of Climate Change with Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health: An Overview and Evidence Map.

Area of Science:

• Food Systems Science
• Climate Change Research
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Scientific literature on climate change's impact on food systems, nutrition, and nutrition-related health (FSNH) has rapidly expanded.
• Understanding the interdependencies and cascading risks for human and planetary health is complex.
• Identifying priority evidence and impactful research gaps within this field is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map the existing synthesis literature on climate change and FSNH.
• To identify key research gaps and areas needing prioritization for future action.
• To provide an evidence and gap map (EGM) supplemented by expert consultation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search for synthesis literature (reviews) published after January 1, 2018.
• Screening and data extraction from identified reviews.
• Creation of an interactive Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) and expert consultation.

Main Results:

• 844 synthesis reports were included, with the majority (86%) focusing on climate impacts on food production and emissions.
• Few reports addressed climate change impacts on nutrition-related health or food processing/distribution.
• Only 25% of reports critically evaluated equity, and 6% suggested equity's role in climate-FSNH dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Significant research gaps exist in understanding whole food systems, postharvest elements, and climate change's direct impact on nutrition-related health outcomes, especially in vulnerable populations.
• There is a need for advanced methodologies to identify intervention points, incorporate complex dynamics, and enable context-specific decision-making.
• Interdisciplinary collaborations focusing on coproduction and fairness are essential for translating evidence into actionable strategies.