Sustainable food, a recipe to combat pollution
We are what we eat and maintaining a sustainable diet reinforces our commitment to the environment. This type of healthy diet is rich in vegetables, encourages the consumption of local products, generates less waste and limits the consumption of meat and fish to protect biodiversity.
Almost all of us strive to eat in a healthy and balanced way, but do we know how our diet affects social welfare and the health of the planet? Many of the foods we eat may be delicious, but they may also be unsustainable for the environment, the economy and the socio-cultural reality of the countries they are grown in.
Almost all of us strive to eat in a healthy and balanced way, but do we know how our diet affects social welfare and the health of the planet? Many of the foods we eat may be delicious, but they may also be unsustainable for the environment, the economy and the socio-cultural reality of the countries they are grown in.
ADVANTAGES OF A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM
An increasing number of countries, including Germany, Brazil and Sweden, are including food sustainability in their food policies and educational guides for the consumer, as recommended by the FAO. The following are, according to the FAO, some of the benefits of a sustainable diet:
Acts against climate change
Global emissions of greenhouse gases would fall by 64% by 2050 if we reduced the production and consumption of animal-based foods by 50%.
Protects forests
Sustainable food production would prevent deforestation by dedicating less land to livestock.
Improves health and contributes to food security
A more sustainable diet would prevent 11 million premature deaths, according to a 2019 study published in the scientific journal The Lancet.
Encourages the survival of threatened species
Between 20% and 40% of the mammals and birds that could become extinct by 2060 would have an improved chance of surviving.
Preserves water resources
With a more sustainable diet, less water would be used and the pollution of rivers and coastal areas due to livestock or the cultivation of animal feed would be reduced.
ECOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE AND ARTISANAL FISHERIES
Organic farming is a way of responsible farming capable of producing enough food for the entire population while minimising environmental damage. This activity can be combined with more sustainable livestock farming, where the animals are raised respectfully and without suffering. Even so, to achieve food sustainability it is essential that we reduce meat consumption and food waste.
The fishing industry, for its part, should opt for methods that protect marine ecosystems and favour large-scale employment, such as low-impact artisanal fishing. For this to happen, governments must promote policies that guarantee the right of these fishermen and their communities to meet their basic nutritional needs.
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