Een internationaal team van meer dan 60 onderzoekers, waaronder wetenschappers van Wageningen University & Research (WUR), waarschuwt dat mondiale voedselsystemen de belangrijkste planetaire grenzen blijven overschrijden en dat een duurzame en rechtvaardige omslag dringend nodig is. Het nieuwe EAT-Lancet Commission rapport Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems biedt een wetenschappelijk onderbouwd pad naar gezonde voeding, sociale rechtvaardigheid en een leefbare planeet.
An international team of more than 60 researchers, including scientists from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), warns that global food systems continue to exceed key planetary boundaries and that a sustainable and just transformation is urgently needed. The new EAT-Lancet Commission report Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems offers a science-based pathway towards healthy diets, social justice, and a liveable planet.
The analysis shows that food systems are responsible for about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions and make the largest contribution to exceeding five planetary boundaries. Currently, less than 1% of the world's population lives in the so-called "safe and just space", where food needs are met without exceeding the Earth's carrying capacity. If necessary changes do not take place, food systems (even after the complete elimination of fossil fuels) could push temperature rise above 1.5°C.
Unequal distribution
The report shows that globally, 30% of the richest people are responsible for 70% of environmental problems. This is a huge imbalance. The researchers stress that it is important to address these problems in an integrated way. That means avoiding a situation where climate measures create new problems - or vice versa. This applies not only to the Netherlands, but to food systems worldwide.
To produce sufficient food, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate are needed. But the availability of these substances is also very unevenly distributed around the world. "That is also an enormous challenge," says Professor Wim de Vries, who led the nutrient research. In regions with a shortage of these substances, such as in Africa, food production is hampered. In regions with an excess, we face problems with air and water quality. "Major changes in our diets are needed, and we must use nutrients more efficiently."
Healthier, more plant-based, and more circular
The study shows that a shift to the Planetary Health Diet could prevent up to 15 million premature deaths annually. This diet emphasises a predominantly plant-based eating pattern, complemented by limited amounts of animal products, and low levels of added sugars and saturated fats. In addition to health benefits, a global transition to such diets could more than halve food system emissions and contribute to ecosystem restoration.
Professor of Earth Systems & Global Change Hannah van Zanten: "It is very important that we tackle these problems in an integrated way. We need a combination of solutions. Circularity - recycling and reducing food loss and waste - improves system efficiency, but it is not a miracle cure. Only by combining circularity with healthier diets, increasing productivity, and changing the distribution of resources can humanity ensure that healthy food is produced with respect for our planet."
Pathways to solutions
The report outlines eight solution pathways, including protecting healthy traditional diets, reducing food loss and waste, halting deforestation, and ensuring decent working conditions for everyone in the food chain. The Commission also emphasises that a sustainable transformation requires a fairer distribution of costs and benefits, and that farmers, workers, and vulnerable groups should have more say in their work.
To make the "Great Food Transformation" possible, scientists estimate that 200-500 billion dollars per year will be needed. While this is indeed a huge amount, they warn that failing to act will be much more expensive. Those costs could rise to as much as 5 trillion dollars annually.
The full report can be read here.
