Supply chain structural leverage for synergetic reduction of food-related greenhouse gas and phosphorus emissions

Increasing food demand drives substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) and phosphorus (P) emissions. Identifying structural leverage points throughout global supply chains can lay scientific foundations for policy decisions on synergetic reductions of food-related GHG and P emissions. Taking China as a case, we revealed those structural leverage points by identifying structural overlaps in supply-chain transmission pathways, sectors, and transactions for food-related GHG and P emissions. China’s food-related GHG emissions have grown from 919 Mt to 2 Gt during 1995–2022, while food-related P emissions rose from 73 to 258 kt. We identified both common and distinct leverage points for food-related GHG and P emissions, revealing that structural leverage points for food-related GHG emissions were more extensive than those for food-related P emissions. Food processing sectors, especially Food products nec and Processed rice, were critical transmission centers for both food-related GHG and P emissions. Mitigating food-related GHG emissions additionally requires targeting key non-food sectors such as the Distribution and trade services of electricity and Transmission services of electricity sectors. This indicates the synergetic reduction situation that practical mitigation measures focusing on the structural leverage points for food-related GHG emissions would create co-benefits of reducing food-related P emissions. We also found that international sectors participated in the transmission of food-related GHG and P emissions, such as beef-related sectors in RoW America and Brazil. This highlights the growing need for international cooperation to mitigate global food-related GHG and P emissions.