An Evidence and Gap Map of intersections between climate change and food systems, nutrition, and health

 

Welcome to our interactive Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) of synthesis literature linking climate change to food systems, nutrition and nutrition-related health!

 

Rationale

Scientific research linking climate change to food systems, nutrition and nutrition-related health (FSNH) has proliferated, showing bidirectional and compounding dependencies that create cascading risks for human and planetary health. Within this proliferation, it is unclear which evidence to prioritise for action, and which research gaps, if filled, would catalyse most impact.

 

Methodological overview

Synthesis literature related to FSNH and published after January 1, 2018 were screened and relevant characteristics extracted, and mapped in an interactive Evidence and Gap Map (EGM), supplemented by expert consultation. Of over 2,700 records, 844 synthesis reports met inclusion criteria and are mapped here.

 

Evidence and Gap Map

Using the EGM

In this map, you can explore different types of evidence: you can take a broad overview when the map is collapsed; or you can open out columns and rows with the arrows, roll over cells to see a summary of studies in each cell; or you can click on each cell to open a bibliography (which can be downloaded as an RIS file). 

You can also use the ‘Filters’ tab on the upper left to explore the many different aspects of this body of research. For example, you could choose the types of review that you want to explore by selecting these (or unselecting those you wish to exclude). You could also select and unselect the domains of climate change or FSNH you wish to see in the map. Or you can limit the map by geopolitical zones – income classification, regions, or specific countries!

 

Findings overview

This novel map describes a wide research landscape linking climate change to FSNH. We identified four key evidence gaps, including:

  1. Research on whole food systems or post-harvest elements
  2. Research evaluating relationships between climate change and nutrition-related health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations
  3. Promising methods (and additional data required) that can:
    • Identify inflection points or levers for intervention
    • Incorporate complex dynamics and characterize trade-offs
    • Be understood and applied in context-specific, localised ways for decision-making
  4. Promoting interdisciplinary collaborations that enable producing and translating evidence to action, especially those that inherently consider co-production and fairness.

We hope that this map is a useful tool to navigate this diverse and rapidly-growing body of evidence – and that it will lead to strategic and improved inquiry into this important subject!

We welcome feedback, questions and suggestions.  If you have any, please write to: [email protected]. 

 

Publications: 

Intersections of climate change with food systems, nutrition, and health: an overview and evidence map

Preprint. ResearchGate, February 2024