Food Sustainability: The Right Way Forward
Given the state of the world with issues like a global pandemic, pollution and global warming, limited land, declining energy resources, food wastage, increasing rate of communicable and non-communicable diseases and plenty of other costs, it is more important than ever to opt for food sustainability when it comes to how and what we eat.
What exactly is food sustainability and how can it help when it comes to the planet and our health? How is it possible to incorporate this kind of concept in our own diets and eating habits? You can go through all the details below, especially in connection to World Health Day 2022 and what the global goals are for this year.
World Health Day 2022
The theme of World Health Day 2022 is ‘Our Planet, Our Health’. With an emphasis on global and planetary health to reduce the occurrence of diseases as well as reduce the burden on the climate crisis, the World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to improve overall well-being.
According to the WHO, nearly 13 million people die each year due to environmental causes, with several elements of the climate crisis also leading to a health crisis across the world. There are various ways in which this this kind of correlation ends up forming, for instance:
The unheeded burning of fossil fuels can add toxicities to the air and can also affect the food.
Increased temperatures can lead to the spread of mosquitoes and several diseases.
Plastics and microplastics that fall into the ocean through industrial wastage can seep into our food.
Processed food can lead to an increase in chronic conditions while also increasing the amount of greenhouse gases.
The inequitable distribution of income and wealth has led to an uneven distribution of resources.
Understanding Food Sustainability
Food sustainability refers to the practice of producing, preparing and eating food in a way that does not put too much pressure on the existing natural resources, thus ensuring that there will be enough of these resources to keep future generations healthy and thriving.
Altering certain human choices and relying on sustainable food systems in terms of agriculture, food distribution, diets and minimizing wastage can help us achieve this kind of food sustainability alongside legal policy changes and greater restrictions on the polluting consequences of industries and large companies. This can also be a good way to combat issues like malnutrition and obesity.
Focusing on what is known as “healthspan” can shift the focus to emphasising longer healthy periods within one’s lifespan, although including the need to be free from serious disease in this definition can be helpful.
The Four “Betters”
These refer to some solutions to help provide more holistic impacts that can bring us closer to the sustainable development goals. These four “betters” include:
Better Production
This involves relying on sustainable agricultural patterns to produce efficient and inclusive food. Ensuring better supply chains while also adapting agricultural techniques to help reduce the strain on the climate is essential.
Better Nutrition
Improving the levels of nutrition and the access to such nutritious food is important. Food security to end hunger around the world and improving the biodiversity are necessary steps to take.
Better Environment
Agriculture uses nearly 50% of the world’s vegetated land and generates 25% of the annual global emissions while also using 70% of freshwater resources. Opting for sustainable agri-food systems and protecting ecosystems can help reduce the strain on the land.
Better Life
Reducing inequalities and inequities across the world in social and economic spheres to improve access to healthy diets can lead to a better life and lifestyle. Changing food consumption habits is important to create resilience in the global food system.
What Is the Agri-Food System?
The agri-food system refers to the all the processes and activities involved in the production, processing, distribution, sale, preparation, and consumption of food. Essentially, the entire journey from its growth in the farm to its consumption by people is mapped in this system.
Apart from food itself, this system also includes associated products like biofuels and forestry resources that can contribute to the journey of food and their impact on the livelihood of people.
Following a Sustainable Diet
A sustainable diet is an essential part of food sustainability. Let’s go through it in detail below.
What Is It?
According to the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, a sustainable diet includes:
Legumes, wholegrains, nuts, various fruits and vegetables
Moderate amounts of dairy, eggs, fish, poultry, red meat
Minimal hormones and antibiotics in food production
Minimal derivatives and plastics in packaging
Minimal food waste and loss
Their Importance
Due to the unsustainable global production, distribution and consumption of food, too much expenditure on single-use plastic packaging and its costs on the environment and the enormous amount of food wastage both before and after consumption, sustainable diets are becoming more and more important and relevant.
With the world population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, there will be an increased need and demand for food, and the only way to carry this out while also ensuring safety of our health and planet (as are the goals for this World Health Day) is to rely on sustainable practices.
Contents of the Diet
Having a flexitarian approach to the food we eat can be ideal instead of necessarily shifting to a completely vegetarian or vegan diet. Consuming more plant-based foods with small amounts of meat and fish can help, although you will need to ensure that you are getting proper intake of protein.
Make sure you follow sustainable meat-eating practices if meat is an essential part of your diet and culture.
Benefits to the Planet
Here are some statistics to help you understand the benefits of sustainable diets on the planet.
Following a Mediterranean diet can help decrease diet related GHG emissions by up to 30 percent.
Following a vegetarian diet can help reduce such GHG emissions by up to 58 percent.
Relying on plant-based foods instead of meat can help reduce diet related GHG emissions by 15 percent.
Planning It Out
Keep the following considerations and factors in mind while building and planning out a sustainable diet.
Food budget and how you currently spend it
Food wastage
Possibility of removing meat and fish from your diet
Possibility of reducing milk and dairy consumption
Food shopping locations to reduce food miles
Ways to minimize usage of food packaging
Additions to your diet for greater variety
Possibility of buying and storing food in bulk
Using leftovers and rotating your meals
Make sure you go about this process in a realistic manner.
Planetary Diet
According to the EAT-Lancet Commission, you can follow a global planetary health diet that can improve the health of your body as well as of the planet. Keeping in mind the 2500 kcal intake requirement for adults (with certain differences based on different groups of people), the
planetary health diet provides a flexible plan with an emphasis on plant-based food and a range of food groups you can consume or incorporate in your diet.
This diet includes a plate with:
50% vegetables and fruits
50% whole grains, plant protein sources, unsaturated plant oils
Modest amounts of animal sources of protein (optional)
Making a Difference
We are all part of the agri-food system, which is why incorporating changes and opting for sustainable diets and a sustainable agri-food system are our responsibilities.
Making nutritious food accessible and affordable, minimising wastage, combating malnourishment and world hunger, dealing with external shocks like health crises and weather changes and improving global food security can help reduce the pressure on our natural resources, thus ensuring sustainability.
Looking to indigenous food diets that rely on local and seasonal foods, self-sufficiency, and plant-based diets can help. Biodiversity in food and focusing on moderation, livelihood of food growers and the advantages to the environment are all essential here.
The media, government and schools can play an important role in spreading the word about such sustainable diets and systems.
The Bottom Line
On account of this World Health Day and its theme, we have now gone through one of the main ways to help achieve the goals that are set out. Food sustainability through sustainable agri-food systems and sustainable diets can be the way to go and can help us and the world move forward in a responsible manner. It is only through this that our health and our planet can remain safe.