Can a new plant-based diet slash food wastage and feed the world?
EAT-Lancet Commission guidelines call for a 50 per cent reduction in red meat and sugar consumption, and a doubling of vegetables, fruits, pulses and nuts
Scientists have designed a new “planetary health diet” to tackle health related issues, global hunger and environmental problems caused by the current food system. This new diet is primarily plant-based, and involves cutting out large amounts of red meat.
As the world’s population continues to grow, the significant role livestock farming plays in driving environmental degradation, pollution and climate change can no longer be ignored. Guidelines drawn up by the EAT-Lancet Commission seeks to address this by calling for a 50 per cent reduction in red meat and sugar consumption alongside a doubling of vegetables, fruits, pulses and nuts in our diets. Though this 2,500-calorie diet still allows for minimal amounts of animal protein, eggs and dairy, meals should be primarily plant-based.
This could mean that the type of change necessary will be different by region. For North Americans and Europeans, reduction in red meat consumption will be the most radical change set out by the planetary health diet. In East Asia, the focus is placed on cutting fish and poultry consumption.
One of the leaders speaking at the Eat Forum NGO, Walter Willett, remarked, “the world’s diets must change dramatically”. The planetary health diet could pave the way for achieving the necessary target of halving current food wastage levels to 15 per cent, according to a report led by Willett and other members of the Lancet commission.
Editors at The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, echoed the urgent nature of the world’s current situation, and the need to adopt this plant-focused diet as a solution. In an editorial, Richard Horton and Tamara Lucas emphasise that it is no longer possible to balance planetary resources and feed the growing global population a nutritious diet if these changes are not adopted.
While the planetary health diet aims to tackle issues of sustainability, food wastage and promote a more environmentally sound global food system, it will also address issues related to health and wellbeing. This plant-focused diet will reduce worldwide hunger and associated illnesses such as malnutrition, while at the same time promoting healthier eating habits and tackling diseases connected to obesity and poor lifestyle choices.
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