Integrated analysis of dietary patterns and agricultural practices for sustainable food systems in Luxembourg

This project concerns the sustainability of food and agricultural practices in Luxembourg. Luxembourg is currently facing many environmental and health related challenges: pollution of drinking water resources by nutrient inputs and pesticides from agricultural activities, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and degradation, and climate change, all of which impinge on health and well-being [1]. These threats are naturally not unique to Luxembourg, but are mirroring the challenges that the food and agriculture sector is facing on a global scale. The food and agriculture sector is as much a victim as also a driver of these problems, and changes in the farming practices are needed in order to face them and ensure food security and food quality for future generations. Apart from production practices, the sustainability of the food and agriculture sector is also influenced by consumers and their food choices, by creating demand for certain food groups or certain production practices. However, little is known regarding the state-of-the-art regarding agricultural food production practices in Luxembourg, and which changes would be needed toward a more sustainable food production.