Plant-based animal product alternatives are healthier and more environmentally sustainable than animal products: Review

A new paper published in the journal Future Foods concludes that plant-based meat and dairy alternatives offer a healthier and more environmentally sustainable solution when compared with the animal products they are designed to replace (University of Bath, 2022). The review analyzed the results of 43 studies. In completing the review, the author evaluated theContinue reading “Plant-based animal product alternatives are healthier and more environmentally sustainable than animal products: Review”

Eat more fish: new research identifies several marine species that are more nutritious and better for the planet than beef, pork, or chicken

Replacing meat with certain types of sustainably sourced seafood could help people to reduce their carbon footprints without compromising on nutrition, finds an analysis of dozens of marine species that are consumed worldwide. The study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment  (Bianchi et al., 2022), “suggests that farmed bivalves — shellfish such as mussels,Continue reading “Eat more fish: new research identifies several marine species that are more nutritious and better for the planet than beef, pork, or chicken”

Ultra-processed foods should be central to global food systems dialogue and action on biodiversity

A recent commentary article published BMJ Global Health (2022) points out that, “The global industrial food system and consequent rapid rise of ultra-processed foods is severely impairing biodiversity. Yet although the impacts of existing land use and food production practices on biodiversity have received much attention, the role of ultra-processed foods has been largely ignored.Continue reading Ultra-processed foods should be central to global food systems dialogue and action on biodiversity

Healthier foods are better for the planet: new study

An analysis of 57,000 foods published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) “reveals which [foods] have the best and worst environmental impacts. A team of researchers used an algorithm to estimate how much of each ingredient was in thousands of products sold in major UK supermarket chains. The scientists then gave foodContinue reading “Healthier foods are better for the planet: new study”

Declining greenhouse gas emissions in the US diet (2003–2018): Drivers and demographic trends: new research

New research published in the Journal of Cleaner Production reported that, “From 2003 to 2018, the mean GHG emissions associated with the US diet fell by more than 35%, from 4.02 kg CO2e per day per capita, to 2.45 kg CO2e per day per capita, despite average caloric intake remaining relatively stable over the same period. AverageContinue reading Declining greenhouse gas emissions in the US diet (2003–2018): Drivers and demographic trends: new research

Which diet is more climate friendly: novel foods or mostly vegan?: research

As reported recently in Anthropocene Magazine, a new study published in the journal Nature Food finds that “eating insect meal, kelp, lab-grown eggs, and other novel foods greatly reduces climate impact. But there’s also a simpler solution: eating less meat.” “So-called ‘novel foods’ such as insect powder and algae are increasingly being touted for their environmental andContinue reading “Which diet is more climate friendly: novel foods or mostly vegan?: research”

Study explores fast-growing rise of ‘climavore’ consumers

“By 2030, our routine food choices will be climate-directed. The companies that mobilize now will win the future of food.” With that said, global management consulting firm Kearney has released its 2022 Earth Day Survey, which measures the growing momentum of ‘climavorism’ among consumers – referring to the making of mindful food choices based on environmental impact. ThisContinue reading “Study explores fast-growing rise of ‘climavore’ consumers”

Biodiversity effects of food system sustainability actions from farm to fork

In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers simulated the potential effects of dietary shifts and food waste reduction on the biodiversity impacts of food consumption in the United States. The authors found that “[a]dopting the [EAT-Lancet] Planetary Health diet or the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)–recommended vegetarian dietContinue reading “Biodiversity effects of food system sustainability actions from farm to fork”

IPCC: world will miss 1.5°C without transforming food system

http://www.ipes-food.org/pages/news-IPCC-world-miss-1.5-04042022  Reacting to the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the mitigation of climate change…, experts from IPES-Food called for fundamental reform of food systems to avoid catastrophic levels of global warming. The IPCC report, agreed by governments and scientists, finds that: We are nowhere near on track to achieve the ParisContinue reading IPCC: world will miss 1.5°C without transforming food system

Healthy people, healthy planet: a flexitarian approach to sustainable healthy diets (self-study course)

This self-study continuing education course, which was approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to offer 2 CPEUs, provides an overview of the EAT-Lancet Commission’s planetary health diet, a largely plant-based flexitarian diet; discusses the principles of a flexitarian diet; describes the nutritional advantages of a flexitarian diet; examines the health and environmental benefits ofContinue reading “Healthy people, healthy planet: a flexitarian approach to sustainable healthy diets (self-study course)”