This production vs consumption approach is extensively discussed in greenhouse gas emissions accounting, where carbon footprint is the consumption-based indicator.
The International Resource Panel has produced a detailed report on land, "Assessing global land use: Balancing consumption with sustainable supply",[3] which establishes a planetary boundary for cropland, and proposes a potential safe operating space target of 0.2 ha of cropland per person per year.
The most detailed study of Europe's land footprint (including forestry) and how this is traded with the rest of the work was published by Sustainable European Research Institute (SERI) in 2011.
[5] A study of Germany's land balance[6] modelled the impact of changes in diet and consumption of stimulants (e.g. coffee, wine etc.)
It found that a switch to a healthier diet, with less meat and with reduced stimulants, could lead to no net land imports, while a switch to vegetarian or vegan diets would lead to Germany being a net exporter of land.