A recent research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) explored the approaches to achieving healthy and sustainable diets.
Background
Achieving egalitarian, healthful, and sustainable diets is a watershed moment for food systems. The EAT-Lancet study emphasized the significance of dietary changes necessary to stay within planetary bounds.
Furthermore, it is vital to comprehend the viability of necessary adjustments at the agricultural, social, and economic levels. The authors of the current study examined numerous viewpoints for achieving sustainable and nutritious diets within regional and sociocultural subtypes of the food system.
Diets in various circumstances
Evidence suggests that eating more processed or red meat increases the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and premature mortality. Thus, studies back up the benefits of eating minimally processed plant-based meals including vegetables, fruits, seeds, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.
The extremely appealing ultra-processed foods and beverages have higher levels of saturated fat, calories, sugar, salt, and additives linked to NCDs and obesity.
Plant-based diets have the least influence on greenhouse gas emissions, whereas animal-based meals have the most impact. With increasing income, the percentage of starchy basics and disposable cash spent on food decreases.
Low socioeconomic groups have limited physical and financial access to high-quality food, which limits their eating options. Furthermore, there is a trend in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to replace plant-based protein with animal-based protein, although contrary trends have occurred in certain high-income countries (HICs).
Food systems and diets
Sustainable diets are linked to sustainable food systems. modifications in technology, dietary modifications, or output will be insufficient to achieve levels within planetary bounds. Food stores and retail have an impact on food preferences, eating culture, and nutritional habits, whereas agriculture and food industries determine the food supply.
A sustainable food system will provide nutritious food for future generations while also being economically efficient and environmentally resilient. Furthermore, there is no single global food system or diet, rather there are several individual diets and local food systems. Food system actors and scientists should pay attention to the larger food environment, which governs availability, pricing, and access.
Furthermore, economic principles influence the behavior of food system participants at many levels. Individual families, for example, purchase readily available, accessible, and inexpensive meals, leading to national inequities.
Macroeconomic principles relate food demands to global or regional production, leading to environmental issues.
At the micro level, eating habits are influenced by the situational interaction of four dimensions: culture, economy, health, and environment. At the macro level, economic and cultural standards may be changed to encourage sustainable diets. To describe sustainable diets, food system policy and research require credible indicators and metrics.
It has proven difficult to include universal indications of nutrients, energy, and other components into a diet quality score. Water and land use are typical environmental indicators, but water shortages, biodiversity loss, and land-use change might better indicate the time span of hitting planetary limitations.
Mathematical models have long been used in nutrition studies to optimize eating patterns. These methods include items into diets to meet specific parameters.
Nonetheless, most models integrate foods as separate entities and struggle to account for the cultural variation of dietary habits. Other ways to avoid this by focusing on a predetermined vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous diet.
Accountability and Players in the food system
Beyond short-term concerns, an economic and cultural reset is required to effectively and inexpensively supply sustainable meals to 9-10 billion people. Younger generations are concerned about the planet’s future.
Citizens have taken on responsibility by participating in local policies. Meanwhile, non-governmental groups have been interested in topics such as fair trade, animal welfare, and fossil fuel investments.
As tiny companies hit gold on social media, livestream shopping is booming.
Others have participated in organic, sustainable co-operative farming, and consumer protection and advocacy organizations have sued governments for failing to meet greenhouse gas emission objectives. Thus, although governmental actors are hesitant to make required systemic reforms, civil society has expressed displeasure with the present quo.
Food-based dietary guidelines are a well-established method for governments to integrate sustainability into national policy.
Long-standing attempts to encourage healthy eating have proven that information-driven initiatives are useless, as only a subset of the population adheres to or is aware of nutritional guidelines. Agricultural policy should shift toward supporting long-term production networks.
Citizen concerns, government regulations, and food businesses’ intentions cannot create systemic change. The differences at the national level suggest a power imbalance between governments, local businesses, and local communities. Despite their limited influence, citizens attempt to hold corporate and governmental players responsible for effective methods.
While the majority of foods in the global supply chain are produced locally by small and medium-sized businesses, a few giant seed firms, transnational food conglomerates, and international commodities merchants have gained clout in the food system.
A study reveals that being “out of date” on COVID-19 immunization is associated with a decreased risk of infection.
As a result, governments should balance this with taxes, subsidies, and trade agreements that take into account the value of health, biodiversity, and environmental repercussions.
final observations
The transformation of the food system is dependent on the local execution of global goals. Food system research should take into account the four dimensions’ local character as well as the responsibility of players at various levels.
Diets are essentially personal and local, hence the local context is critical. Beyond the customers’ control, a systemic approach to sustainable diets is required.
Because of their position and influence at critical points in supply chains, food system players are accountable for the change.
Overall, changes in global food systems necessitate local, national, and international solutions, as well as a new balance of public and business interests to improve food system actors’ regulatory power and boost corporate responsibility.
