Nutrition is an essential basic need of every human being and probably never before in the history of mankind have there been so many alternatives to food. Today, we experience the most diverse food cultures and find an incredible variety of products in the food retail trade.

However, even though food is available in sufficient quality and quantity, there are still major challenges that will have a significant impact on the future of nutrition :

• The expansion of land use often affects biodiversity habitats and greenhouse gas emissions, which has a negative impact on the effects of climate change.
• The increase in diet-associated diseases and obesity combined with micronutrient deficiencies reflects dietary patterns dominated by unhealthy and extremely processed foods.
• The intensive use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides to increase crop yields can affect the quality of groundwater and create further risks to ecosystem cycles.
• Development policy requirements, including the creation of decent jobs, the reduction of gender inequalities and combating the economic and socio-political marginalization of certain communities.

As a result, a number of initiatives in current research have already begun to take an integrative perspective on the multiple links between food, agriculture and the environment. Their initial results all indicate that a major transformation of the food system must be tackled in order to meet human needs without violating planetary boundaries. This is already being taken to the political level (e.g. Scientific Advisory Council on Agricultural Policy, Food and Consumer Health Protection 2020).

As it cannot be assumed that a sustainable balance of economic, ecological and social concerns can be achieved through market forces alone, the ZERN research and transfer network is developing a concept to tackle these issues. By creating and linking knowledge and know-how, the innovative strength of Lower Saxony as a business location is to be strengthened and a future-proof agricultural and food industry established.