The complex connections of food systems with environment, health and nutrition

Although there is considerable scholarly, public, and policy interest in improving food systems, the critical connections they share with the environment, human health, and nutrition are not always visible. This gap is further compounded by a historical divide between disciplines as diverse as agricultural science, food science, health science, nutrition science, earth science, and environmental science. To challenge the status quo, we must bring these disciplines together to explore the complexity of these connections. A deeper, systemic understanding of food system linkages can help us envision and build food systems that are environmentally sustainable, designed to deliver positive outcomes for health and wellbeing, and able to nourish—rather than just feed—the global population.This Research Topic aims to dismantle disciplinary silos and amplify interdisciplinary approaches to food system transformation. It specifically focuses on how crop species diversity acts as a fundamental lever connecting agricultural landscapes, dietary diversity, and public health. We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and conceptual analyses that provide policy-relevant knowledge and frameworks to translate these complex connections into improved agrifood practices.We encourage submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Agrobiodiversity and system resilience: The role of crop species diversity, crop wild relatives, and underutilized species in building climate-resilient farming systems.Dietary homogenization vs. nutritional outcomes: Empirical links between simplified, monoculture-based food supply chains and poor nutritional outcomes, including the rise of diet-related non-communicable diseases.Interdisciplinary frameworks: Studies integrating agricultural, ecological, environmental, and health sciences to evaluate the holistic performance of food systems.Policy-to-practice translation: Actionable research outlining how understanding the environment–health–nutrition nexus can inform better governance, policies, and sustainable practices in agrifood sectors.The main goal of this Research Topic is to advance our understanding of how diversity at all scales—from genetic resources to species and landscapes—underpins sustainable food systems. By gathering a body of interdisciplinary work, it aims to:Provide concrete, policy-relevant evidence on how crop species diversity enhances holistic food and nutrition security;Foster cross-disciplinary dialogue that bridges the gap between agricultural production, environmental science, and public health nutrition;Offer actionable frameworks for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to design sustainable agrifood systems that deliver positive cascading benefits for both environmental and human health.Keywords: Food systems; crop species diversity; sustainable diets; agrobiodiversity; nutrition security; environmental sustainability; public health; dietary diversity; interdisciplinary research; policy translation. Topic editors: Shonil Anil Bhagwat Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83718/the-complex-connections-of-food-systems-with-environment-health-and-nutrition