The production, distribution and consumption of food impacts our everyday lives – but to what extent? Faced with malnutrition in developing countries and food wastage at every stage of the supply chain, how can we guarantee a future of food production that both responds to global demand and is environmentally responsible?

One third of the approximate 1.3 bn tonnes of food produced annually for human consumption is wasted. Global supply chains connect minimum-cost producers and processors with their target consumers, and waste is encountered at each stage. Ethical food production and the impacts of global heating on crop growth are being addressed by the development of sustainable, site-flexible production methods and versatile growth systems such as aeroponic farming, whilst emerging alternative meals based on lab-grown meat and sustainable protein-rich algae suggest ways of combating food shortage, malnutrition, and the environmental impact of production. The Drivers of Change Food cards examine the key developments in the production, distribution and consumption of food.