Environmental Pollution in Food Production and Pathways for Mitigation through Sustainable and Circular Approaches

Abstract

Abstract Global food production is under increasing pressure to meet global food security demands while simultaneously reducing environmental burdens. This review critically evaluates air emissions, greenhouse gas (GHG) contributions, water pollution, and solid waste generation across the entire food production life cycle, including agricultural production, food processing, and associated waste management. Over its entire life cycle, global food production contributes approximately 58% of anthropogenic PM 2.5 emissions, and 72% ammonia ( NH 3 ), underscoring its substantial impact on air quality. In addition, irrigation activities alone contribute nearly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals, while the food manufacturing sector accounts for about 30% of total industrial water consumption, highlighting the sector’s intensive water demand. Food loss and waste (FLW) further exacerbate environmental burdens, with landfill disposal responsible for an estimated 58% of fugitive methane emissions from municipal landfills due to food waste decomposition. This review synthesizes mitigation strategies including resource recovery (nutrient, energy, material), low-energy approaches, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), sustainable agricultural practices, and advancements in food processing technologies. By integrating environmental performance, technology readiness level (TRL), and implementation barriers, this review advances beyond existing studies that focus on isolated processes and identifying key bottlenecks and research gaps; the study provides practical insights to support the development of environmentally responsible and resource-efficient food production.