Revealing the sustainability performance of novel food system technologies- a systematic scoping review

Abstract Food system technologies (FSTs) are being developed at an unprecedented rate to accelerate the transformation towards sustainable food systems. Sustainability is a multi-faceted concept and innovations may inadvertently promote one facet while compromising another. Yet, limited empirical evidence on the sustainability performance and trade-offs of novel FSTs exist. We conducted a systematic scoping review that accounts for multiple dimensions of sustainability to synthesize peer-reviewed research assessing the sustainability performance of four novel FSTs: plant-based alternatives, vertical farming, food delivery and blockchain technology. Included literature assessed a wide range of sustainability indicators, with a dominant focus on environmental sustainability. Significant research gaps on the public health and socio-economic implications of these FSTs remain. Additional research is explicitly required to understand the general sustainability implications of plant-based seafood alternatives and blockchain technology, public health consequences of food deliveries, and socio-economic consequences of vertical farming. The sustainability performance of FSTs varied across the literature and for sustainability indicators. The development of a holistic sustainability assessment framework that illustrates the implications of deploying and scaling FSTs is needed. This can guide investments in and the development of sustainable food innovation.