Transforming the food system by moving the bottom

The author contends that the global food system requires a transformation focused on 'moving the bottom'—the least efficient 10-20% of producers who generate 60-80% of environmental impacts while producing only 5-10% of the product. The text asserts that improving these producers is the only way to achieve absolute reductions of 50% in food's overall footprint and 80% in food-related GHG emissions. This shift would require governments to mandate a 'license to operate' based on resource limits and could be supported by more responsible producers providing technical or financial assistance. The document emphasizes that incremental change is insufficient and that urgent action is needed to protect biodiversity, soil health, and the climate.

• The least efficient producers have a disproportionate impact on the environment; specifically, the bottom 10-20% of producers for any commodity are responsible for 60-80% of the impacts while contributing only 5-10% of the product.
• Targeting the least efficient producers is the only viable method to achieve absolute reductions of 50% for the total food footprint and 80% for food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
• Future farming rights should be contingent on a 'license to operate,' meaning farmers may only farm if they work within the limits of their resource base and maintain or improve those resources.
• Government intervention is necessary to force the poorest performers to change, as these producers are typically responsible for the highest levels of GHG emissions, habitat conversion, and negative impacts on soil health and biodiversity.

APA

Clay, D. J. (2023). Transforming the food system by moving the bottom. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/transforming-the-food-system-by-moving-the-bottom/

Chicago

Clay, Dr. Jason. Transforming the food system by moving the bottom. WWF International, 2023. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/transforming-the-food-system-by-moving-the-bottom/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Clay |first1=Dr. Jason |title=Transforming the food system by moving the bottom |publisher=WWF International |date=6 December 2023 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/transforming-the-food-system-by-moving-the-bottom/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clay2023transforming, author = {Clay, Dr. Jason}, title = {{Transforming the food system by moving the bottom}}, publisher = {WWF International}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/perspectives/sustainability-works-hub/sustainability-works-index/transforming-the-food-system-by-moving-the-bottom/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }