Journal highlights – 2023

@article{Liyanapathirana2023,

title = {Nutritional, environmental and economic impacts of ultra-processed food consumption in Australia},

author = {Navoda Nirmani Liyanapathirana and Amanda Grech and Mengyu Li and Arunima Malik and Rosilene Ribeiro and Timur Burykin and Manfred Lenzen and David Raubenheimer},

doi = {10.1017/s136898002300232x},

issn = {1475-2727},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-12-00},

journal = {Public Health Nutr.},

volume = {26},

number = {12},

pages = {3359--3369},

publisher = {Cambridge University Press (CUP)},

abstract = {AbstractObjective:To quantify the full life cycle impacts of ultra-processed foods (UPF) for key environmental, economic and nutritional indicators to identify trade-offs between UPF contribution to broad-scope sustainability.Design:Using 24-h dietary recalls along with an input–output database for the Australian economy, dietary environmental and economic impacts were quantified in this national representative cross-sectional analysis. Food items were classified into non-UPF and UPF using the NOVA system, and dietary energy contribution from non-UPF and UPF fractions in diets was estimated. Thereafter, associations between nutritional, environmental and economic impacts of non-UPF and UPF fractions of diets were examined using a multi-dimensional nutritional geometry representation.Setting:National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2011–2012 of Australia.Participants:Respondents (n 5344) aged > 18 years with 1 d of 24-h dietary recall data excluding respondents with missing values and outlier data points and under reporters.Results:Australian diets rich in UPF were associated with reduced nutritional quality, high greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and increased employment and income associated with the food supply chains. The environmental and economic impacts associated with the UPF portion of diets become more distinct when the diets are standardised to average protein recommendation.Conclusion:Increased consumption of UPF has socio-economic benefits, but this comes with adverse effects on the environment and public health. Consideration of such trade-offs is important in identifying policy and other mechanisms regarding UPF for establishing healthy and sustainable food systems.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Chen2023,

title = {Physical and virtual nutrient flows in global telecoupled agricultural trade networks},

author = {Xiuzhi Chen and Yue Hou and Thomas Kastner and Liu Liu and Yuqian Zhang and Tuo Yin and Mo Li and Arunima Malik and Mengyu Li and Kelly R. Thorp and Siqi Han and Yaoze Liu and Tahir Muhammad and Jianguo Liu and Yunkai Li},

doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-38094-4},

issn = {2041-1723},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-12-00},

journal = {Nat Commun},

volume = {14},

number = {1},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {AbstractGlobal agricultural trade creates multiple telecoupled flows of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The flows of physical and virtual nutrients along with trade have discrepant effects on natural resources in different countries. However, existing literature has not quantified or analyzed such effects yet. Here we quantified the physical and virtual N and P flows embedded in the global agricultural trade networks from 1997 to 2016 and elaborated components of the telecoupling framework. The N and P flows both increased continuously and more than 25% of global consumption of nutrients in agricultural products were related to physical nutrient flows, while virtual nutrient flows were equivalent to one-third of the nutrients inputs into global agricultural system. These flows have positive telecoupling effects on saving N and P resources at the global scale. Reducing inefficient trade flows will enhance resource conservation, environmental sustainability in the hyper-globalized world.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Li2023,

title = {Integrated assessment modelling of degrowth scenarios for Australia},

author = {Mengyu Li and Lorenz Keyßer and Jarmo S. Kikstra and Jason Hickel and Paul E. Brockway and Nicolas Dai and Arunima Malik and Manfred Lenzen},

doi = {10.1080/09535314.2023.2245544},

issn = {1469-5758},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-08-30},

journal = {Economic Systems Research},

pages = {1--31},

publisher = {Informa UK Limited},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Goodwin2023,

title = {Targeting 1.5 degrees with the global carbon footprint of the Australian Capital Territory},

author = {Kylie Goodwin and Cameron Allen and Soo Huey Teh and Mengyu Li and Jacob Fry and Manfred Lenzen and Serena Farrelly and Constanza Leon and Sophie Lewis and Guangwu Chen and Heinz Schandl and Thomas Wiedmann},

doi = {10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.006},

issn = {1462-9011},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-06-00},

journal = {Environmental Science & Policy},

volume = {144},

pages = {137--150},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Jin2023,

title = {Greenhouse gas emissions, land use and employment in a future global bioplastics economy},

author = {Yutong Jin and Manfred Lenzen and Alejandro Montoya and Bronwyn Laycock and Zhiguo Yuan and Paul Lant and Mengyu Li and Richard Wood and Arunima Malik},

doi = {10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106950},

issn = {0921-3449},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-06-00},

journal = {Resources, Conservation and Recycling},

volume = {193},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Liyanapathirana2023b,

title = {Nutrient-sensitive approach for sustainability assessment of Australian macronutrient dietary recommendations},

author = {Navoda Nirmani Liyanapathirana and Amanda Grech and Mengyu Li and Arunima Malik and Manfred Lenzen and David Raubenheimer},

doi = {10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.11.002},

issn = {0002-9165},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-02-00},

journal = {The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition},

volume = {117},

number = {2},

pages = {298--307},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{AbdRahman2021,

title = {Multi-level comparisons of input–output tables using cross-entropy indicators},

author = {Muhammad Daaniyall Abd Rahman and Bart Los and Anne Owen and Manfred Lenzen},

doi = {10.1080/09535314.2021.1990869},

issn = {1469-5758},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-02},

journal = {Economic Systems Research},

volume = {35},

number = {1},

pages = {75--94},

publisher = {Informa UK Limited},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Yousefzadeh2022,

title = {Cooling and Power from Waste and Agriculture Residue as a Sustainable Strategy for Small Islands—A Case Study of Tonga},

author = {Moslem Yousefzadeh and Manfred Lenzen and Muhammad Arsalan Tariq},

doi = {10.3390/su15010537},

issn = {2071-1050},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-00},

journal = {Sustainability},

volume = {15},

number = {1},

publisher = {MDPI AG},

abstract = {Identifying local energy sources and devising a circular economy could improve self-sufficiency in many Pacific Islands. On the islands with significant agriculture, the residue from the cultivation of plants has promising energy potential. The waste stream is another potential source of energy that otherwise should undergo proper treatment. Additionally, cold-storage capacity improves the preservation of crops and increases the agricultural exports of these islands. This study proposes a combined cooling and power (CCP) system driven by biomass from agriculture residue and waste streams as fuel for different districts in Tonga. The units supply a fraction of the districts’ electricity demand and provide sufficient cold-storage capacity to preserve the prospective yield of a fraction of fallow lands. The technical and economic performance of the CCP units was analysed for different fractions of electricity demand and fallow land exploitation in each district during a year of operation. The results show that the optimum combination of the CCP units supplies 38% of the total electricity demand of Tonga and prevents the annual consumption of 7.4 million litres of diesel and emission of 20 kilotonnes of CO2. In addition, it provides 3700 m2 of cold-storage area, which is sufficient for preserving the prospective yield of the exploitation of 27% of the total fallow land of Tonga. Annual export revenue of about AU$10 million is expected from such a cold-storage capacity for Tongan farmers. Furthermore, the units consume 10,000 tonnes of annual waste, significantly reducing waste management costs. This study presents an example of a comprehensive circular-economy solution for a remote island state that improves its socioeconomic and environmental condition by supplying the community’s local needs from its available and abundant resources under a viable business model. The solution presented in this study can be adapted to many island communities with significant agriculture in the economy and crucial energy and cooling needs.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Lenzen2023,

title = {Application of multi-region input-output analysis to examine biosecurity risks associated with the global shipping network},

author = {Manfred Lenzen and Mimi Tzeng and Oliver Floerl and Anastasija Zaiko},

doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158758},

issn = {0048-9697},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-00},

journal = {Science of The Total Environment},

volume = {854},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Malik2023,

title = {Global environmental and social spillover effects of EU's food trade},

author = {Arunima Malik and Guillaume Lafortune and Salma Dahir and Zachary A. Wendling and Christian Kroll and Sarah Carter and Mengyu Li and Manfred Lenzen},

doi = {10.1017/sus.2023.4},

issn = {2059-4798},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-00-00},

journal = {Glob. Sustain.},

volume = {6},

publisher = {Cambridge University Press (CUP)},

abstract = {

	    Non-technical summary

	    Globalisation has narrowed the gap between producers and consumers. Nations are increasingly relying on commodities produced outside of their borders for satisfying their consumption. This is particularly the case for the European Union (EU). This study assesses spillover effects, i.e. impacts taking place outside of the EU borders, resulting from the EU's demand for food products, in terms of environmental and social indicators.

	  

	  

	    Technical summary

	    Human demand for agri-food products contributes to environmental degradation in the form of land-use impacts and emissions into the atmosphere. Development and implementation of suitable policy instruments to mitigate these impacts requires robust and timely statistics at sectoral, regional and global levels. In this study, we aim to assess the environmental and social impacts embodied in European Union's (EU's) demand for agri-food products. To this end, we select a range of indicators: emissions (carbon dioxide, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide), land use, employment and income. We trace these environmental and social impacts across EU's trading partners to identify specific sectors and regions as hotspots of international spillovers embodied in EU's food supply chains and find that these hotspots are wide-ranging in all continents. EU's food demand is responsible for 5% of the EU's total CO2 consumption-based footprint, 9% of the total NOX footprint, 16% of the total PM footprint, 6% of the total SO2 footprint, 46% of the total land-use footprint, 13% of the total employment footprint and 5% of the total income footprint. Our results serve to inform future reforms in the EU for aligning policies and strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.

	  

	  

	    Social media summary

	    Significant environmental and social spillover effects embodied in the EU's food supply chains.

	  },

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}