Dutch Schijf Van Vijf: Eco Impact Explored by Expert

The food system accounts for a third of the global climate impact. Why is that share so large?

'This covers the entire chain: from production to consumption, so really from farm to fork. We measure that impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. It's not surprising that the impact is so large: 8 billion people need food every day.

But a large part of that impact is unnecessary. Around a third of all food produced is never eaten. Tackling that waste is therefore an important way to reduce the climate impact. A shift towards more plant-based diets can also contribute quickly. Because the share of the food system is so large, there are relatively fast ways to bring emissions down.'

How much difference does it make if people in the Netherlands follow these guidelines?

'If we do not slow climate change, it will directly affect our food security.'

'I would rather turn that question around: what would a stable climate actually mean for our food system in the Netherlands? The Netherlands is highly productive thanks to stable conditions: fertile soil, sufficient fresh water and relatively little extreme weather. That foundation is now under pressure. We are already seeing this, for example in recent years of drought. If we do not slow climate change, it will directly affect our food security. So Dutch people have a lot to gain themselves.'

How realistic is it that people will actually eat more plant-based food?

'The biggest barrier is habit. Food is part of our cultural identity, so it does not change easily. At the same time, behaviour can shift quickly under the influence of markets and marketing. Think of the current protein hype in supermarkets, or well-known slogans such as 'Milk is good for everyone', which have led people in the Netherlands to consume far more animal protein. How the market presents plant-based food, therefore, matters a lot, and lobbying plays a major role in that.'

'I think the change will ultimately be impossible to stop.'

'Because plant-based food generally requires fewer resources, energy and land, it is likely that we will gradually move in that direction. The scarcer those resources become, the more economically attractive plant-based production becomes for companies. Better plant-based alternatives also make it easier for people to change their habits, because less adjustment is needed. That lowers the barrier for consumers.

You also see lobbying efforts trying to slow this development down, for example, around how plant-based meat alternatives can or cannot be named in supermarkets. But I think the change will ultimately be impossible to stop.'

Is plant-based eating automatically more sustainable?

'Not necessarily. Plant-based does not automatically mean sustainable. It strongly depends on how and where something is produced - for example, large-scale palm oil production and its impact on rainforests in Southeast Asia.

I think that in the discussion about plant-based diets, it would be helpful to focus more on efficiency. A plant-based food system uses fewer space, resources and less energy. But sustainability is broader: it also includes soil, water, animal welfare and fairness.'

Do health and sustainability always go hand in hand?

'Partly yes, but not always. A sustainably produced glass of wine still contains alcohol. On the other hand, eating too much meat is not only bad for your health, but also for the environment. Here, the two go hand in hand.

In Western countries, the focus is often on individual health, but that can conflict with the impact on the rest of the world. The transition to a more sustainable food system makes that tension visible: between what is good for the individual and what is good for the collective wellbeing of people and the planet. I hope we learn to look (and eat) more broadly: not only at what is good for ourselves, but also at what is good for the world around us. It is a welcome development that the Dutch "Schijf van Vijf" takes this into account.'