One topic that stood out to me during this course is the global food system and how it relates to planetary well-being. Systems thinking helped me realize how food is not just about agriculture or diet — it is deeply connected to biodiversity loss, climate change, water use, labor rights, and even health inequality.

 

For example, the heavy reliance on monocultures, long supply chains, and chemical inputs are part of a system that prioritizes efficiency and profit but harms both people and the planet. At the same time, food waste and overproduction coexist with hunger — a contradiction that only makes sense when viewed through the lens of a broken system.

 

Systems thinking helped me ask better questions:

• How are different parts of the food system reinforcing unsustainable practices?

• Where are the leverage points for meaningful change — local farming? consumer awareness? policy reform?

• How can we shift to regenerative, circular food systems that promote planetary and human well-being?

 

This course has helped me understand that sustainable solutions must be systemic, not just technical or individual.