Food Systems Under Pressure: Climate Shocks and the Pursuit of Food Security and Sustainable Diets

Drawing from the fields of human nutrition and food systems research, recent years have seen growing concern about the vulnerability of food systems to climate shocks and environmental stressors, especially in smallholder-dependent regions. These shocks, including heatwaves, droughts, floods, and economic volatility, threaten not only food production but also the accessibility, affordability, and diversity of diets essential for nutritional well-being. Recent evidence highlights that the intersection of climate resilience, sustainable production, and nutrition outcomes is critical but remains underexplored, particularly in relation to the mechanisms through which systemic shocks cascade from agricultural systems to household nutrition. Landmark studies have begun to illuminate the links between diversified, climate-resilient agriculture, strengthened market systems, and improved food security, but important knowledge gaps remain. There is a pressing need for research that more comprehensively connects production-side innovations, institutional frameworks, market linkages, policy processes, and community-level adaptations directly to dietary quality, nutrition security, and environmental sustainability.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of how food systems can remain nutrition-sensitive, climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive under environmental and economic stress. It seeks to examine the pathways through which climate shocks influence food and nutrition security through the intermediary roles of food access, market stability, production diversity, institutional support, and governance. It also aims to illuminate effective nutrition-sensitive adaptations, such as home gardens, underutilised and biofortified crops, resilient value chains, indigenous food systems, and community-based adaptation strategies, while evaluating the capacity of institutions, market actors, collective action, and policy innovations to sustain equitable and sustainable diets. Particular attention will be given to pathways for transforming vulnerable food systems towards climate resilience, nutritional adequacy, and environmental sustainability, including grassroots and global policy and process innovations, farmer-led responses, and technological transitions. The Topic further encourages integration of environmental sustainability metrics with nutrition outcomes, supporting interdisciplinary inquiry that connects agricultural transformation, household nutrition, local knowledge systems, and broader food system transitions in vulnerable populations.The Research Topic is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 13: Climate Action. Positioning the Topic within this recognised global framework highlights its relevance to wider sustainability agendas and strengthens the applicability of its findings for policymakers, development agencies, and international organisations working towards more resilient, healthy, and sustainable food systems.- We encourage submissions rooted in, but not limited to, the following themes:- The impact of climate shocks on food security, dietary diversity, and nutrition risk- Climate-resilient and nutrient-dense crops for sustainable diets, with emphasis on contributions to human nutrition beyond yield- Nutrition-sensitive household and community food production systems, including home gardens, integrated models, and farmer-led adaptation strategies- Indigenous food systems, local knowledge, and community-based adaptation strategies that strengthen resilience, dietary quality, and sustainability- The role of institutions, organisations, markets, and governance systems in maintaining access to healthy, affordable, and sustainable foods- Pathways for transforming vulnerable food systems towards climate resilience, nutritional adequacy, and environmental sustainability, including policy innovations, grassroots processes, and technological transitions- Environmental and sustainability metrics explicitly linked to nutrition security and dietary quality- Social inclusion, extension, digital innovations, and knowledge systems shaping food system resilience and nutrition outcomes Topic editors: Anirban Mukherjee, Kumari Shubha Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82126/food-systems-under-pressure-climate-shocks-and-the-pursuit-of-food-security-and-sustainable-diets