The Food System Transformation Challenge

Can you transform the global food system by 2050?
You are a global food policy coordinator. The current food system is failing: hunger persists, obesity is rising, biodiversity is collapsing, and agriculture contributes a third of all greenhouse gas emissions. Over 6 rounds (each representing 5 years), you implement 23 food system measures drawn from research. Every measure has benefits and trade-offs — and your political popularity determines how many policy points you receive each round. Voters reward visible improvements and punish crises, so you must balance long-term sustainability with near-term approval.
🍽️
Health
Fight hunger AND reduce obesity simultaneously
🌿
Environment
Protect biodiversity, climate, water & nitrogen
💰
Inclusion
Keep food affordable; improve farm livelihoods
⚖️
Trade-offs
No single measure fixes everything — packaging matters
👥
Popularity
Budget = mandate. Crises drain approval; progress earns it. Voters judge your policies directly.
⏳ Loading game data…
Based on: Bodirsky et al. (2025) "A food system transformation pathway reconciles 1.5°C global warming with improved health, environment and social inclusion." Nature Food.
Impact of food system measures was roughly parametrized on the study, policy points and popularity are a pure game dynamic without scientific foundation.

Choose Your Challenge

The baseline trajectory depends on the socioeconomic pathway the world follows.
Which scenario will you try to steer from?
SSP1 · EASY
Sustainability
A world of low challenges and high cooperation. Poverty and hunger are already declining. Climate policy is advancing. Your reforms build on a benign baseline.
SSP2 · MEDIUM
Middle of the Road
Trends follow historical patterns. Some progress on development, but nitrogen and food costs keep rising. A balanced but demanding baseline.
SSP3 · HARD
Regional Rivalry
Fragmented governance, rising nationalism, stalled development. Poverty barely falls; nitrogen and warming accelerate. Every reform faces fierce opposition.
🌍 The Food System Transformation Challenge
Year 2025 Current simulation year
Round 1 / 6
Popularity
60 Slim Majority
Policy Points 8
Scenario SSP2
📊 System State

👥 Popularity Over Time

Based on: Bodirsky et al. (2025) "A food system transformation pathway reconciles 1.5°C global warming with improved health, environment and social inclusion." Nature Food.
Impact of food system measures was roughly parametrized on the study, policy points and popularity are a pure game dynamic without scientific foundation.
🎛️ Policy Measures
🌍 Cross-Sector events (Energy Transition, Bioplastics, Timber Cities; and Demographic & Human Development in SSP2/3) appear as wildcards at each round's end, drawn automatically from your SSP scenario pool.
Select policies to see popularity forecast
🌍 Cross-Sector Events

In the meanwhile, there is progress outside of the food system:

Measures Implemented This Round

Global Food System Assessment — 2050
/ 100

Bodirsky et al. (2025), Nature Food — research shows combining all 23 food system measures reduces mortality by 182 million life years/year and near-halves nitrogen surplus by 2050.