[ad_1]
According to a new study, the world's agricultural production could not help everyone on the planet to eat healthy.
Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada have found that nutritionist nutrition recommendations for a healthy diet are not sustainable if everyone adopts it.
"We simply can not adopt a healthy diet in today's global agriculture system," said Dr. Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph and co-author of the study.
"The results show that the global system is currently overproducing grains, fats and sugars, while the production of fruits and vegetables and, to a lesser extent, protein, is not enough to meet the nutritional needs of the current population" , did he declare.
The team used Harvard University's Healthy Eating Plate, which recommends that half of our diet be made from fruits and vegetables; 25% whole grains; and 25% protein, fat and dairy products.
The researchers calculated the amount of land currently used for agriculture and the amount needed if everyone followed the nutritional recommendations.
They then projected these numbers for 2050, while the world's population is expected to reach 9.8 billion.
They found that we now produce 12 servings of grain per person instead of the eight recommended; five servings of fruits and vegetables instead of 15; three servings of oil and fat instead of one; three portions of protein instead of five; and four portions of sugar instead of nothing.
"What we produce globally is not what we should produce according to nutritionists," said Professor Fraser.
Krishna KC, a researcher in the Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics and senior author of the study, explained that since carbohydrates are relatively easy to produce and can feed many people, developing countries are focusing on cereals.
He said developed countries have been subsidizing grain and corn production for decades to become self-sufficient and to establish global leadership in their production.
These countries also spent a lot more money on research and innovation for these crops than for fruits and vegetables.
"Plus, fats, sugar and salt are tasty and are what we crave, so we have a real hunger for these foods," said KC. "All of these factors combined have resulted in a global system that actually overproduces these types of foods."
"If we move to nutritious diets, we would see a decrease in the amount of land needed to feed our growing population."
But to achieve this, we would all need to eat less meat.
The research team discovered that it would take 50 million hectares of arable land less for the production to meet the nutritional standards in effect because fruits and vegetables require less land to grow cereals, sugar and fat.
"The major players in the protein industry are investing in alternative protein options, such as herbal proteins, and consumers are benefiting from the recent increase in the number of alternative protein options on the market. "said Fraser.
"Without any change, feeding 9.8 billion people will require 12 million hectares of arable land and at least one billion hectares of pasture," he added.
"Feeding the next generation is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century.
"For a growing population, our calculations suggest that the only way to eat healthy, save land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to consume and produce more fruits and vegetables, as well as to move to a diet richer in vegetable protein. "
[ad_2]
Source link
