If we are what we eat, can we also change the future of the planet if we choose to change our food? A new study indicates that we can.
Chatham House’s report ‘Impacts of the food system on biodiversity loss’ reveals that the global food system is the main driver of biodiversity loss in the world. Agriculture is responsible for 80% of all land use changes and habitat destruction.
Furthermore, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, it is identified as a threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 species that are at risk of extinction.
The document also proposes three crucial points for creating a sustainable food system:
First, to switch our diet to a plant-based and plant-based diet. This change reduces the incidence of diseases associated with excessive consumption of red meat, as well as reducing the risk of pandemics.
It also results in the use of fewer natural resources and reduced emissions of polluting gases; secondly, reserving some land only for the conservation and restoration of wildlife and natural habitats; thirdly, boosting the development of more sustainable agriculture through environmentally friendly techniques and products.
To conclude, the experts also recommend that countries recognize the relationship between demand and supply (thus avoiding waste), adapt the food systems that drive this action, and strengthen the coherence between global agreements and actions at the local level.