Estimating the environmental impacts of 57,000 food products

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(33)

Published: Aug. 8, 2022

Understanding and communicating the environmental impacts of food products is key to enabling transitions environmentally sustainable systems [El Bilali Allahyari, Inf. Process. Agric. 5, 456-464 (2018)]. While previous analyses compared commodities such as fruits, wheat, beef [Poore Nemecek,

Language: Английский

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Vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters and meat-eaters in the UK show discrepant environmental impacts

Nature Food, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 4(7), P. 565 - 574

Published: July 20, 2023

Modelled dietary scenarios often fail to reflect true practice and do not account for variation in the environmental burden of food due sourcing production methods. Here we link data from a sample 55,504 vegans, vegetarians, fish-eaters meat-eaters with food-level on greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water eutrophication risk potential biodiversity loss review 570 life-cycle assessments covering more than 38,000 farms 119 countries. Our results include that is observed assessments. All indicators showed positive association amounts animal-based consumed. Dietary impacts vegans were 25.1% (95% uncertainty interval, 15.1-37.0%) high (≥100 g total meat consumed per day) (7.1-44.5%) 46.4% (21.0-81.0%) 27.0% (19.4-40.4%) 34.3% (12.0-65.3%) biodiversity. At least 30% differences found between low most indicators. Despite substantial where how produced, relationship impact consumption clear should prompt reduction latter.

Language: Английский

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Friend or Foe? The Role of Animal-Source Foods in Healthy and Environmentally Sustainable Diets

Journal of Nutrition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 153(2), P. 409 - 425

Published: Jan. 20, 2023

Scientific and political discussions around the role of animal-source foods (ASFs) in healthy environmentally sustainable diets are often polarizing. To bring clarity to this important topic, we critically reviewed evidence on health environmental benefits risks ASFs, focusing primary trade-offs tensions, summarized alternative proteins protein-rich foods. ASFs rich bioavailable nutrients commonly lacking globally can make contributions food nutrition security. Many populations Sub-Saharan Africa South Asia could benefit from increased consumption through improved nutrient intakes reduced undernutrition. Where is high, processed meat should be limited, red saturated fat moderated lower noncommunicable disease risk-this also have cobenefits for sustainability. ASF production generally has a large impact; yet, when produced at appropriate scale accordance with local ecosystems contexts, play an circular diverse agroecosystems that, certain circumstances, help restore biodiversity degraded land mitigate greenhouse gas emissions production. The amount type that will depend context priorities change over time as develop, nutritional concerns evolve, new technologies become more available acceptable. Efforts by governments civil society organizations increase or decrease considered light needs and, importantly, integrally involve stakeholders impacted any changes. Policies, programs, incentives needed ensure best practices production, curb excess where sustainably low.

Language: Английский

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Climate change: Strategies for mitigation and adaptation

The Innovation Geoscience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 100015 - 100015

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

<p>The sustainability of life on Earth is under increasing threat due to human-induced climate change. This perilous change in the Earth's caused by increases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases atmosphere, primarily emissions associated with burning fossil fuels. Over next two three decades, effects change, such as heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, storms, floods, are expected worsen, posing greater risks human health global stability. These trends call for implementation mitigation adaptation strategies. Pollution environmental degradation exacerbate existing problems make people nature more susceptible In this review, we examine current state from different perspectives. We summarize evidence Earth’s spheres, discuss emission pathways drivers analyze impact health. also explore strategies highlight key challenges reversing adapting change.</p>

Language: Английский

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Incident type 2 diabetes attributable to suboptimal diet in 184 countries

Nature Medicine, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(4), P. 982 - 995

Published: April 1, 2023

The global burden of diet-attributable type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well established. This risk assessment model estimated T2D incidence among adults attributable to direct and body weight-mediated effects 11 dietary factors in 184 countries 1990 2018. In 2018, suboptimal intake these was be 14.1 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI), 13.8-14.4 million) incident cases, representing 70.3% (68.8-71.8%) new cases globally. Largest burdens were insufficient whole-grain (26.1% (25.0-27.1%)), excess refined rice wheat (24.6% (22.3-27.2%)) processed meat (20.3% (18.3-23.5%)). Across regions, highest proportional central eastern Europe Asia (85.6% (83.4-87.7%)) Latin America the Caribbean (81.8% (80.1-83.4%)); lowest South (55.4% (52.1-60.7%)). Proportions generally larger men than women inversely correlated with age. Diet-attributable urban versus rural residents higher lower educated individuals, except high-income countries, Asia, where individuals. Compared 1990, increased by 2.6 absolute percentage points (8.6 more cases) variation trends world region factor. These findings inform nutritional priorities clinical public health planning improve quality reduce

Language: Английский

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Animal- and Plant-Based Protein Sources: A Scoping Review of Human Health Outcomes and Environmental Impact

Nutrients, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(23), P. 5115 - 5115

Published: Dec. 1, 2022

Dietary proteins are indispensable to human nutrition. In addition their tissue-building function, they affect body composition and regulate various metabolic pathways, as well satiety immune system activity. Protein use can be examined from a quantitative or qualitative viewpoint. this scoping review, we compare animal- plant-based protein sources in terms of effects on health the environment. We conclude that consumption vegetable is associated with better outcomes overall (namely, cardiovascular system) than animal-based product use. The healthier dovetail lower environmental impact, which must considered when designing an optimal diet. Indeed, planet cannot disjointed being. Future research will clarify mechanisms action underlying compared animal sources, fostering agronomic practices influencing public direction benefit both its inhabitants.

Language: Английский

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Toward healthy and sustainable diets for the 21st century: Importance of sociocultural and economic considerations

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(26)

Published: June 12, 2023

Four years after the EAT-Lancet landmark report, worldwide movements call for action to reorient food systems healthy diets that respect planetary boundaries. Since dietary habits are inherently local and personal, any shift toward sustainable going against this identity will have an uphill road. Therefore, research should address tension between global nature of biophysical (health, environment) social dimensions (culture, economy). Advancing system transformation healthy, transcends personal control engaging consumers. The challenge science is scale-up, become more interdisciplinary, engage with policymakers actors. This provide evidential basis from current narrative price, convenience, taste one health, sustainability, equity. breaches boundaries environmental health costs can no longer be considered externalities. However, conflicting interests traditions frustrate effective changes in human-made system. Public private stakeholders must embrace inclusiveness include role accountability all actors microlevel macrolevel. To achieve transformation, a new “social contract,” led by governments, needed redefine economic regulatory power balance consumers (inter)national

Language: Английский

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Peak and fall of China's agricultural GHG emissions

Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 389, P. 136035 - 136035

Published: Jan. 14, 2023

Language: Английский

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Which are the most promising protein sources for meat alternatives?

Food Quality and Preference, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 119, P. 105226 - 105226

Published: May 14, 2024

Meat alternatives have the potential to shift people's diets into a more sustainable direction. To improve consumers' attitudes meat and increase likelihood of their consumption, it is important identify most promising protein sources from consumer perspective. This study investigated expectations toward 17 specific applied in four conventional animal-based across six rating dimensions an online survey with 916 participants German-speaking part Switzerland. Additionally, several relevant characteristics, namely food neophobia, health consciousness, preference for naturalness, environmental identity, alternatives, were assessed. containing potato, lentil, chickpea, pea achieved highest acceptance scores. Other sources, such as algae, insects, different types cultured meat, did not achieve high acceptance. Multiple regressions used investigate further influence characteristics. For characteristics identified barriers, emphasizing importance distinguishing groups consumers sources. The also showed that commitment has no on alternative proteins; rather, negative are problem. Future efforts should therefore focus optimizing properties instead demonizing consumption meat. One way optimize use ingredients already positive toward, pea.

Language: Английский

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Sustainability benefits of transitioning from current diets to plant-based alternatives or whole-food diets in Sweden

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Plant-based alternatives (PBAs) are increasingly becoming part of diets. Here, we investigate the environmental, nutritional, and economic implications replacing animal-source foods (ASFs) with PBAs or whole (WFs) in Swedish diet. Utilising two functional units (mass energy), model vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian scenarios, each based on WFs. Our results demonstrate that PBA-rich diets substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions (30-52%), land use (20-45%), freshwater (14-27%), vegan diet showing highest reduction potential. We observe comparable environmental benefits when ASFs replaced WFs, underscoring need to ASF consumption. PBA scenarios meet most Nordic Nutrition Recommendations, except for vitamin B12, D selenium, while enhancing iron, magnesium, folate, fibre supply decreasing saturated fat. Daily food expenditure slightly increases (3-5%) decreases WF (4-17%), being 10-20% more expensive than Here show, can impact current meeting nutritional recommendations, but expenditure. recommend prioritising diversifying WFs healthier accommodate diverse consumer preferences during dietary transitions.

Language: Английский

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