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An increase in fruit and vegetable production will be necessary if diets change
If the world wants to limit climate change, water scarcity and pollution, we must all adopt "flexitarian" regimes, say the scientists.
This means eating mainly herbal foods, and is one of the three key steps toward a sustainable future for all by 2050, they say.
According to the study, it will halve food waste and improve agricultural practices.
Without action, the impacts of the food system could increase by 90%.
Just after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) historic report, we present this new study on the impact of food production and consumption on key threats on the planet.
The authors say that the food system has a number of significant environmental impacts, including as a major factor in climate change, depletion of freshwater and pollution from excessive use of water. nitrogen and phosphorus.
The study indicates that with population growth and income expected between 2010 and 2050, these impacts could increase between 50 and 90%. This could push our world beyond its planetary boundaries, which, according to the authors, represents a "safe space for mankind to operate on a stable Earth system".
However, the study concludes that no single solution will prevent hazards, so a combined approach is needed.
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Improved farming techniques and reduced use of fertilizer will be needed
Thus, with regard to climate change, the authors looked at what they called a "flexitarian regime".
"We can eat a whole range of healthy diets, but, according to the latest scientific evidence, they all share the fact that they are all relatively plant-based," said Dr. Marco Springmann, senior author of the University of Toronto. Oxford.
"You can go from a diet containing small amounts of animal products." Some might call it a Mediterranean diet, we call it a flexitarian diet, then a pescadian, vegetarian or vegan diet. to stay with the most conservative diet of those who in our opinion is the flexitarian, but even that is only one serving of red meat a week ".
If the world adopted this type of diet, the study found that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture would be reduced by more than half.
However, in addition to changes in diets, research indicates that farming practices need to change significantly. This involves increasing the yields of existing cropland, improving water management and restricting and recycling the use of fertilizers.
"We looked at improving crop yields, particularly more health-sensitive crops, such as fruits, vegetables and legumes," Dr. Springmann said.
"In the past, a lot of investment has been invested in stable grains such as corn and maize, but now we need to turn them into crops that we need more." We have also sought to increase the efficiency of use. water, and improved fertilizer monitoring and recycling – they are largely lost and run off into rivers and create dead zones in the oceans. "
In addition, the study found that halving the amount of food lost to waste would reduce the environmental impact of agriculture by 16%.
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Reducing food waste will be essential to reduce the environmental impacts of agriculture
"To combat food loss and waste, measures will have to be taken at all levels of the food chain, from storage to transport, through packaging and labeling of food products, as well as changes in legislation and business behaviors favoring zero waste supply chains, "said Fabrice de Clerck, scientific director at EAT who funded the study.
The key element is that these three solutions must be implemented together.
"It's possible to feed a global population of 10 billion people, but only if we change the way we eat and produce food," said Johan Rockström, director-designate of the Institute for Research on Food. impact of the Potsdam climate. authors of the study.
"All combined measures can result in keeping the planet and humans healthy."
The study was published in the journal Nature.
