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Washington: If everyone on the planet wanted a healthy diet, there would not be enough fruits and vegetables to meet the demand.
In a recent study, researchers compared global agricultural production with nutritionist consumption recommendations and found a glaring imbalance. The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Evan Fraser, co-author of the study, said, "We simply can not adopt a healthy diet in the current global agricultural system. The results show that the global system is currently overproducing cereals, 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. "
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. That's five servings of fruits and vegetables instead of 15, three servings of oil and fat instead of one, three servings of protein instead of five and four servings of sugar instead of zero.
"What we produce globally is not what we should produce according to nutritionists," said Fraser,
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.
Krishna KC, co-author of the study, said, "Fat, sugar and salt are also tasty and are what we yearn for humans. So we have a real hunger for these foods. All of these factors combined have resulted in a global system that actually overproduces these types of foods. "
The study suggests that the adoption of a more nutritious diet is not only beneficial for us but also for the planet.
The researchers also found that to adapt production to nutritional guidelines, it would take 50 million hectares of arable land less, because fruits and vegetables require less land for cultivation than cereals, sugar and vegetables. fat.
But to achieve this reduction, consumers should eat less meat and the agri-food sector should produce more vegetable protein.
Without any change, feeding 9.8 billion people will require 12 million hectares of arable land and at least one billion hectares of additional pastures, Fraser said.
"Feeding the next generation is one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Our calculations suggest that, for a growing population, a nutritionally balanced diet, spared land, and nutritionally balanced greenhouse gas emissions, consume and produce more fruits and vegetables, as well as more nutrients. a transition to a diet that is richer in vegetable protein ".
Source: ANI
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