A diagram (infographic) that provides an overview of the actors and flows that make up the global food system. Developed in the context of the Future of Food and Farming project, UK Government Office for Science (2011).
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-food-and-farming
1. Geopolitical Relationships
Politics &
Governance
Socio-
Cultural
Economic
Science Civil
Security
Farming
System
Climate
Change
Farm
Economy
Food
Industry
Food
Security
S U P P LY– F a r m i n g D E M A N D – F o o d
Demographic
Money
Food
Technology
Socio-
Cultural
Waste
Geographic
Land
Farmers
Values
Knowledge
Preferences
Consumers
Energy
Water
Environment
Transport
– Basic ElementsFood System Map
copyright® 2009 shiftn cvba
2. Environment
Technology
Politics
Governance
Socio-
Cultural
Socio-
Cultural
Economic
Science
Geopolitical Relationships
Science
Civil
Security
Geographic
Farming
System
Energy
Technology
Climate Change
Farm
Economy
Food Industry
Food
Security
Food
Security
Security
S U P P L Y – F a r m i n g F o o d – D E M A N D
Politics
Governance
Demographic
Money
Energy
Water
Consumers
Food
Land
Farmers
Value Chain
Legislators
Civil Service
Terrestrial
Aquatic
Structural
& Fibre
Aquatic
Farmers
Refrigeration
Ownership
Food Safety
Trade agreements
Refrigeration
Consumers
Fishermen
Farm Support
B i o f u e l
Engineers
Researchers
Technology
Transfer
Food Service
RawMaterials
Processing
Arable Land
Rural
Forest & Fibre
Feedstock Grassland
Wildfoods
Food
Biofuel
Competition for land
Peri-Urban
Less Productive Land
Urbanization
Rural Development
Conservation
Crop Mix:
bulk/speciality/diversity
Profits
Carbon
sequestration
Agricultural science
Land use science
Food science
Environmental science
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Agricultural Processes
Agricultural Technology
Knowledge Transfer
Irrigation
Seed
Water
Fertilization
Pest control
Pests & Diseases
Planting,
Tending,
Harvesting
Knowledge
Work(ers)
Economic Policy
Agricultural Policy
Environmental Policy
Trade Policy
Development Policy
Global
National
Regional
Local
Regional
differences
in production
Regional
differences
in consumption
Land
Inputs
Outputs
Aquatic
EcosystemsAquaculture
Aquacapture
Food Chain
Agricultural
Production Mix
Production Limits
Total
Renewable
Organic
Material
Calories
Nutrition
Availability
& Options
Feed
Food
• Improved conversion and storage of solar energy in biomass
• Increase yields of agricultural production
• Optimise use of available land
• Precision agriculture
Sunlight
Global Trade & Transport
livestock
Storage
Wildmeat
Meat & Dairy
Taxes & Tariffs
Infrastructure
charges
Investments
Subsidies
Price controls
Monitoring
Research
Policy & Funding
Development
Policy & Funding
Cereals, Legumes, Nuts
Fruits, Vegetables
Values
Beliefs
Knowledge
Information
Food quality, safety & acceptable risk
Consumption
Patterns
Food
Preparation
Consumer behaviour
Behaviour change
Ability to
payLogistics
Fish & Seafood
Peak Oil
Farmgate
Prices
Transaction
costs
Currency
Markets
Financial
Markets
Investments
Externalized
costs
Social equality
Social cohesion
Community-based
innovation
Local
knowledge
Public health
Chronic diseases
Mental
Capital
Social Capital
Multifunctionality
Cultural values
Population Size
Distribution
Age
Household size
Migration
Public perception
Media
Education
Education
& Training
PR/Marketing/
Advertising
Marketing
Intelligence
Training
Perception of:
food industry, farming, fair-trade
sustainability, GM foods, etc.
Physical,
social, and
economic
access
Social
Networks
Labelling
Social
benefits
Markets &
Market Segments
Funding & Fees
Transport
Renewable:
Oil, Gas, Coal
Nuclear
Biofuel crops
Wind
Solar
Hydro
Wave/Tide/Current
Geothermal
Waste
Average temperature
Frequency/magnitude of
extreme weather events
Sea level rise
Changing rainfall patterns
Migrating climate conditions
Transport Sector
Food RetailersFood marketerTrader
Ingredient
blenders
Food
manufacturer
Agro
Cooperatives
Food Ingredient
Manufacturer
Health
Wellbeing
Mental Capital
Social Capital
Cultural
Environmental
Economic
Aesthetic
Heritage
Recreation
Scientific
Spiritual
Pest control
Pollination
Water flow & flood regulation
Water quality regulation
Biodiversity - Genetic
Supporting
Nutrient cycling
Nitrogen
Primary productivity
Sediment
Soil formation
Regulating
Air Quality
Assimilation
Buffer
Climate
Disease
Erosion
Fire
Natural hazard
Other Regulating
CO2 sequestration
Preferences
Consumer
Prices
Regulations
Economic Growth
Designations & Protections
Zoning
Food
Agriculture
Environmental
Health & Safety
Policy commitments
Legislation
Legal obligations
Ownership Structure
Planning system
Education
& Advocacy
Food stock
management
re-use, by-product utilization, recycling, disposal
Commodity
Prices
Energy
Costs
Sanitation
Food
Security
Pollution
Air
Water
Ground
Civil
Water
Energy
Economic
Resilience:
Resistance to shocks is
an emergent property
of the whole system
Food
Insecurity
Political
Pressure
Barriers to adoption
PricesSupply Demand
Taxes
Subsidies etc.
Self-
sufficiency
Greenhouse
Gases
Global Food System Map
copyright® 2009 shiftn cvba
3. Grocery
Stores
Restaurants
Farmers Markets
and CSA’s
Food
Companies
Food
Wholesalers
POLITICAL
SYSTEMS
Waste
Waste
Chemicals
Media / Advertising
Education
Access
Social Network
Land & Soil
Family & Friends
Community
Region
National
Global
Civic
Engagement
Lobbying
Land Use
Climate Change
Animal Welfare
Biodiversity
Pollution
Trash
BIO LO GI C AL
S YS TEM S
SOCIAL
SYSTEMS
ECONOMIC
SYSTEMS
Agriculture
Know-how
Labor
Food Culture
Money
Money
Food
Food
Water
Ground Water
Waste
F a r m e r s
Sunlight
Energy
Nutrients
Government
& Policy
Transport
Commercial
Seed
Regulations
Taxes
Subsidies
Ownership
Trade
Food
Literacy
Consumer
Farming
The Food System
copyright® 2011 shiftn cvba
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