Food systems account for 27 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions based on FAO life-cycle estimates. The EU targets 25 percent of agricultural land for organic farming. Surveys show that 53 percent of consumers consider sustainability in their purchases.
Key Takeaways
- 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions were attributed to food systems in 2019, per FAO reporting using life-cycle estimates.
- The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy targets that 25% of agricultural land will be under organic farming by 2030.
- EU Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Hygiene of foodstuffs) requires food business operators to implement procedures based on HACCP principles.
- EU Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 established general principles and requirements of food law, including traceability (food and feed businesses must be able to identify other businesses that have supplied them and other businesses that receive their products).
- 2.4 billion people (about 30% of the global population) cannot afford a healthy diet as of 2019–2021 estimates reported by FAO.
- The global plant-based meat market size is forecast to reach $27.2 billion by 2030 according to Market Research Future (with published CAGR assumptions).
- The global carbon accounting software market is projected to grow to $2.5 billion by 2027 according to MarketsandMarkets (from earlier baseline).
- The global market for sustainable agriculture is expected to reach $19.8 billion by 2028 according to a Fortune Business Insights market forecast.
- 63% of supply chain professionals reported using sustainability criteria for supplier selection in a 2023 survey by Gartner.
- In the EU, 84% of consumers say they are concerned about the environment, according to a 2023 Eurobarometer survey.
- 53% of consumers said sustainability is important in their purchasing, per a 2023 YouGov report on sustainable consumption.
- 39% of consumers report that food waste reduction is a personally relevant action, according to a 2023 survey by YouGov.
- 20–30% of food produced is lost or wasted across the global food system, according to 2011–2014 Food Loss and Waste literature synthesized by UN and FAO reporting.
- 18.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions (including land-use change) were from agriculture in 2010, per IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report.
- 7.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to transport of food-related goods and services, per a life-cycle based assessment by Poore & Nemecek.
Food systems drive major emissions, while EU rules and rising demand are pushing healthier, greener choices.
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01 · Category
Emissions & Climate1 stats
01
27% of global greenhouse gas emissions were attributed to food systems in 2019, per FAO reporting using life-cycle estimates.
Interpretation
Emissions & Climate Interpretation
Food systems are responsible for 27% of global greenhouse gas emissions as of 2019, underscoring that emissions and climate impacts are central to sustainability in the food industry.
02 · Category
Regulation & Standards8 stats
01
The EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy targets that 25% of agricultural land will be under organic farming by 2030.
02
EU Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (Hygiene of foodstuffs) requires food business operators to implement procedures based on HACCP principles.
03
EU Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 established general principles and requirements of food law, including traceability (food and feed businesses must be able to identify other businesses that have supplied them and other businesses that receive their products).
04
By 2022, 17% of the global population lived in countries with food waste reduction policies in place, according to UNEP’s Food Waste Index report.
05
The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive targets collection and recycling targets culminating in 2025–2030 system targets set by Directive (EU) 2018/852 and amendments.
06
EU Directive (EU) 2019/904 (Single-Use Plastics Directive) sets specific reduction targets for certain single-use plastic products.
07
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered a transitional phase beginning 1 October 2023 for reporting declared embedded emissions for certain covered goods.
08
In 2023, the SEC adopted climate-related disclosure rules requiring certain issuers to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risks, with compliance phased in (the final rule was adopted March 6, 2024).
Interpretation
Regulation & Standards Interpretation
On the Regulation and Standards front, Europe and global regulators are steadily tightening requirements, from the EU pushing for 25% organic farmland by 2030 and HACCP-based hygiene compliance to broader traceability and disclosure rules, while 2022 saw 17% of the world’s population in countries with food waste reduction policies.
03 · Category
Supply Chain & Sourcing1 stats
01
2.4 billion people (about 30% of the global population) cannot afford a healthy diet as of 2019–2021 estimates reported by FAO.
Interpretation
Supply Chain & Sourcing Interpretation
With about 2.4 billion people or roughly 30% of the global population unable to afford a healthy diet, the supply chain and sourcing challenge is not just producing food but ensuring it reaches people at prices they can actually sustain.
04 · Category
Market Size & Investment4 stats
01
The global plant-based meat market size is forecast to reach $27.2 billion by 2030 according to Market Research Future (with published CAGR assumptions).
02
The global carbon accounting software market is projected to grow to $2.5 billion by 2027 according to MarketsandMarkets (from earlier baseline).
03
The global market for sustainable agriculture is expected to reach $19.8 billion by 2028 according to a Fortune Business Insights market forecast.
04
The global alternative protein ingredients market is forecast to grow to $36.4 billion by 2030 according to a report from IMARC Group.
Interpretation
Market Size & Investment Interpretation
Investors are clearly backing fast-growing sustainability adjacent segments as the plant-based meat market is projected to reach $27.2 billion by 2030 and sustainable agriculture is forecast to hit $19.8 billion by 2028, alongside strong growth in carbon accounting software to $2.5 billion by 2027 and alternative protein ingredients to $36.4 billion by 2030.
More related reading
05 · Category
Industry Adoption1 stats
01
63% of supply chain professionals reported using sustainability criteria for supplier selection in a 2023 survey by Gartner.
Interpretation
Industry Adoption Interpretation
In the industry adoption of sustainability practices, 63% of supply chain professionals reported using sustainability criteria for supplier selection in 2023, signaling that environmental considerations are becoming a standard part of supplier decisions.
06 · Category
Consumer & Demand3 stats
01
In the EU, 84% of consumers say they are concerned about the environment, according to a 2023 Eurobarometer survey.
02
53% of consumers said sustainability is important in their purchasing, per a 2023 YouGov report on sustainable consumption.
03
39% of consumers report that food waste reduction is a personally relevant action, according to a 2023 survey by YouGov.
Interpretation
Consumer & Demand Interpretation
For the Consumer & Demand angle, the data show that environmental concern is widespread with 84% of EU consumers saying they care, and this concern is translating into purchasing behavior as 53% say sustainability matters in what they buy.
07 · Category
Emissions Footprints4 stats
01
20–30% of food produced is lost or wasted across the global food system, according to 2011–2014 Food Loss and Waste literature synthesized by UN and FAO reporting.
02
18.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions (including land-use change) were from agriculture in 2010, per IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report.
03
7.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to transport of food-related goods and services, per a life-cycle based assessment by Poore & Nemecek.
04
8.0% of food systems’ GHG emissions are estimated to come from agriculture’s use of fertilizers (direct nitrous oxide), according to a comprehensive life-cycle review published in 2020.
Interpretation
Emissions Footprints Interpretation
Emissions Footprints in the food industry are driven not only by agriculture’s 18.7% share of global greenhouse gases in 2010 but also by food system losses and key upstream sources, since 20–30% of food is wasted and fertilizer use alone accounts for about 8.0% of food systems’ GHG emissions.
08 · Category
Policies, Standards & Regulation3 stats
01
100% of food businesses in the UK are required to register with local authorities under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2013, ensuring baseline compliance with food safety systems.
02
33% of global food companies reported being audited under GFSI-recognized schemes in 2022, per GS1 Global report on food safety audit coverage.
03
4 years is the typical implementation period referenced by the EU for CSRD full transition across reporting waves, per the CSRD directive’s phased application timeline.
Interpretation
Policies, Standards & Regulation Interpretation
From the Policies, Standards & Regulation perspective, the UK’s 100% food business registration requirement and the fact that only 33% of global companies were audited under GFSI-recognized schemes in 2022 show both universal baseline rules and uneven audit coverage, while the EU’s roughly four year CSRD transition timeline signals regulators are steadily tightening sustainability reporting expectations.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Sustainability In The Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Sustainability In The Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+7 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)