Sustainability is not just confined to solar panels and other renewable energy resources. It is also reflected in our daily habits, what we eat, wear, produce, and the way we live. Yes, everything we eat also has an impact on the environment but varies depending on the type of meal and the way it is produced or grown. Today, we will discuss in detail why food sustainability is important, what it actually is, and how to improve it.
Why Food Sustainability is Important?
Eating food is another way we rely on natural resources. Sustainability is important because choosing these practices will decrease greenhouse gas emissions and minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.
Do you know: Globally, 30% of greenhouse gases are due to food production, and 7% is due to its waste?
What is Food Sustainability?
It is a structure with a proper balance of food security and nutrition for all economic & social sectors. Its production and consumption should always minimize the environmental impact and human health.
These are certain factors by which we understand why it is important.
1. Environmental Effect: Globally, one-third of food is lost or wasted leading to a significant driver of emissions. Simultaneously, millions suffer from inadequate or poor dietary choices. Addressing this paradox, the situation requires fostering a sustainable food system.
2. Agriculture Production: One-third of global greenhouse gas emissions are due to food systems. At present, it is recognized as the leading consumer of land and water, including 70 % of total water usage.
3. Beef Production: Livestock and beef production, can cause greenhouse gas emissions. The footprint of lamb and beef is high, whereas the impact of the production of grains is low.
Global food production impacts around 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the livestock sector contributes 14.5% of these emissions.
The below graph shows the greenhouse gas emissions for 100 grams of protein in different kinds of foods
4. Food Gaps: It is explained as calorie demand that the world has to face in the future. There could be a 70% calorie demand for a world population of almost 10 million by 2050. This food gap needs to be reduced by a sustainable approach.
5. Health concerns: Around 2 billion adults suffer from being overweight or obese, while 400 million+ adults face the challenge of being underweight. The UN Decade of Action on Nutrition, in partnership with the WHO and FAO, has set targets to be achieved by 2025. One of the key objectives is to create food systems that are sustainable and resilient, and which promote healthy diets.
Cross-reference: Malnutrition is a world health crisis
6. Resource Conservation: Out of the 250,000 identified plant species, only 7,000 have been utilized as human food since the advent of agriculture. Among these, a mere 12 crops and 5 animal species contribute to 75 % of the world’s energy intake. In the past 5 decades, human diets have converged, becoming 37 % more uniform.
There needs to be sustainably intensified food production from diversified means of sources like both terrestrial and different kinds of seafood. If interested, you can also take a look at the Sustainable Food Brands.
Benefits of Sustainable Eating
1 . Health Benefits: The sustainable diets have plant-based foods rich in vitamins and antioxidants.These help to avoid medical conditions like
- Inflammation
- Digestive issues
- Heart problems
- Diabetes
- Cancers
2. Weight Reduction: These food patterns are rich in nutrients and have a balance of carbohydrates and protein. So, if one has control over portion size and follows sustainable eating weight management will be easy.
3. Decreased Food Budget: Choose food that is locally sourced and seasonally grown. Strawberries are a winter production crop in Florida, if we want to taste them in August we tend to import from other places. This not only ends up in highly processed food but also a lot of carbon is produced during transportation
4. Sustain Farmers: Go for locally grown foods. This will stand as encouragement for farmers and agriculturists.
5. Decrease Harmful Gases in Landfills: One of the harmful gases produced in landfills is methane, which is mainly caused by beef and lamb.
To know about food waste in landfills, take a look at the Interesting Landfills Facts and Stats.
6. Returns Vitals to the Soil: Farming practices, such as crop rotation and organic farming help to return nutrients to the soil. They are much needed for maintaining soil fertility.
Food Sustainability Practices and Ideas
You can improve food sustainability in these ways:
1. Switch to a Plant-Based Diet: If the global population starts eating the right amount of protein, switching to plant-based foods would free up 640 million hectares of land. This possibly would feed 10 billion people by 2050 without agriculture through deforestation.
A plant based diet mostly includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes. Given below are comparisons between a plant-based diet and an animal-based food.
| Factors | Plant-Based Diet | Animal Based Diet |
| Nutritional Benefits | Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals | Protein-rich but is high in saturated fats and cholesterol |
| Environmental footprint | Lower | Higher |
| Health concerns | Lowers heart diseases; High Blood pressure; and Type 2 diabetes | Excessive consumption of red meat leads to cardiovascular diseases |
| Digestive Health | Fiber is good for the gut | can cause digestive issues |
2. Eat Seasonal Foods: Seasonal vegetables and fruits are harvested naturally during various times of the year, during that period these foods retain peak freshness. When there is a demand for unseasonal vegetables or fruits they are exported through transportation, which in turn causes greenhouse gas emissions.
Instead, you can prefer seasonal items such as
- Potatoes, and carrots in cooler months
- Asparagus, and lettuce in spring
- Berries and tomatoes in summer
3. Opt for a Hundred Mile Diet: This diet is a sustainable eating way focused on consuming foods grown within a hundred meters radius of one’s home. It also supports farmers and agriculture locally.
4. Go for Organic & Non GMO foods: Organic farming will avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, this decreases the environmental impact on soil, air and water. So, you can opt for foods that have non-GMO or organic certification.
5. Grow Food at Home: Gardening and growing food gives the satisfaction of the homegrown product and it also lowers your footprint. Start with a small garden or a few containers in your backyard. Implement composting to enrich the soil with nutrients naturally.
Also Read: Reencle Vs. Lomi: Which Food Composter Should You Buy?
6. Practice Sustainable Packing: Just think for a second before you rush into packing, prefer materials made from biodegradable, compostable, and recycling materials. You can have your home-cooked food placed in a glass or steel box instead of a single plastic.
7. Start Eco-Friendly Cooking Practices: Don’t throw away unused vegetable parts like cauliflower and broccoli steams, stack them. Make them into crisps and store them as a snack. Get creative with their leaves, using them as wrappers or covers for steaming food. Utilize other vegetable scraps to prepare flavorful broths, which can then be used to enhance the taste of dishes like pasta.
8. Order Small portions: When you go to a restaurant choose to order smaller portions one after another. By this, you can estimate the food waste and oh yes, you can save your money too!
Why Does Food Sustainability Matter? Is it Worth it?
With population increasing, food needs also spike, and the way we make and eat food matters the most. Here the challenges to be addressed are the release of greenhouse gas emissions from different food sources. Whereas the perks like health benefits and supporting farmers are making it worth it. So, if we practice sustainable food ideas, it would be a feather in the cap for shaping the planet. To learn more about such topics, keep reading our blog posts.
Recommended: 25+ Facts About Food Production
