Although it may not seem so directly, what we eat every day is a determining factor in the environmental impacts that occur worldwide. Agriculture and livestock produce waste, pollute water and soil, and generate certain greenhouse gases that are causing an increase in global temperatures. Faced with the need to change diets and the entire food system, the concept of sustainable food. This method is becoming more and more evident, although difficult to achieve.
We analyze this situation in depth in this article and we will try to give some solutions that make your eating habits more sustainable. Do you want to know more about it?
Food sustainability by FAO
The FAO defines as sustainable food not only those diets that take care of the environment, but are adapted to the economic and socio-cultural dimensions of each place. It is essential that the food we consume cause the minimum environmental impact during its production. It not only has to do with packaging or transport, but the entire production cycle.
There are various indicators that show us the damage caused by the production of certain products that we consume throughout their entire life cycle. Since it is a raw material and is extracted from the environment, until it is a waste. This indicator is known as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). It is possible that added to this LCA we have other environmental indicators such as the carbon footprint. That is to say, the amount of carbon that we emit in our activities and the surface that we need for it.
Analyzing all this data is something quite complex. There are many countries that, currently, have managed to incorporate some sustainability considerations into the development of their products. Food policies are stricter in terms of minimizing environmental impacts both in the creation and in the transport and consumption of a certain product. In order to achieve this environmental stability, it is not only necessary for the production companies to put the batteries, but also food education for citizens is important.
Factors involved in sustainable food
Processed food comes with the rush we always have in our current economic system. It is rare for the person who has time to cook more elaborate dishes and not to mention all those people who have to eat out almost every day. For these types of people, processed and ultra-packaged food is more feasible and accessible. This increases the demand for this type of product and, finally, it translates into an increase in pollution and environmental impact.
Thanks to the incorporation of healthier food policies with the environment, some regulatory and programming implications have been implemented in food guides. These guides promote the integration and development of some recommendations on sustainable food for both citizens and producing companies.
And it is that we do not count all the emissions that we are producing for the simple fact of consuming an ultra-packaged product. Without going further. Let's take an example. We bought a frozen lasagna. Normally, these lasagna have triple packaging: the first is the one on the outside, which is usually cardboard. The second is a plastic wrap and the third is the container that contains it. There are three packages to be able to produce a food that is consumed in a few minutes.
Not only must we count in the LCA of said lasagna the packaging, but also the entire process of making the lasagna, its freezing, transport and distribution until it is consumed at home. Once consumed, the waste left behind must be counted and its subsequent treatment, which, if not recycled, will not be able to take advantage of the material either.
Sustainable nutritional recommendations
These recommendations that many companies are implementing in terms of safeguarding the environment include the following: having a diet that is based mainly on foods of plant origin and whose origin is preferably local. Seasonal produce is much better than non-seasonal produce, since fewer resources are needed for its production and, after all, less polluting. Do not forget that a good diet must have a meat component (for all those people who are not vegetarians or vegans). However, the aim is to reduce food waste.
Another recommendation is to consume fish from sustainable reserves only and reduce the consumption of red meat, enough to be nourished in our diet. Highly sugary and processed foods, it is also advisable to delete them. On this occasion, it is not looking only for the environment and the large emissions of plastic waste, but also for the health of consumers. It is scientifically proven that highly sugary drinks cause problems such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and is linked to other cardiovascular diseases.
All these guidelines for sustainable consumption and production are given in a joint publication of the FAO and the Food Climate Research Network: plates, pyramids, planet. In it you can see a complete vision of the situation we are in and how countries are incorporating sustainability into each proposed guide.
Sustainable diet
A sustainable diet is one that generates low environmental impact and that helps to have food and nutritional security that manages to complete all the needs of people. In addition, it tries that current generations can lead and educate future generations to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Reducing environmental impacts also respects biodiversity and ecosystems. Culturally, they are guides accepted by all, accessible economically and with an optimization of both natural and human resources.
The best thing you can do is modify your eating habits to reduce the food you buy processed and with excess packaging. Not only will you be contributing to the reduction of environmental impact, but you will also be gaining in health. Food has to be as "real" as possible, prioritizing those of plant origin and being healthy.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about sustainable food.