A newly published review by Pashaei et al. (2024) concludes that the mushroom is a good nutritional and environmental meat substitute as it has less environmental impact, including lower carbon, water, and land footprints compared to red meat, including beef and mutton (lamb) (Pashaei et al., 2024). Nutritional benefits of mushrooms In terms of mushrooms’Continue reading “Edible mushrooms as an alternative to animal protein for having a more sustainable diet”
Category Archives: Water Use
Beans and peas rank as best meat and milk replacement from nutritional, health, environmental and cost perspectives: New study
Beans and peas rank best as meat and milk replacement from nutritional, health, environmental, and cost perspectives, a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has found. “They outperformed processed products like veggie burgers and plant milks, but also lab-grown meat which ranked worst.” (Springmann, 2024; Environmental InstituteContinue reading “Beans and peas rank as best meat and milk replacement from nutritional, health, environmental and cost perspectives: New study”
How much food does the world waste? What we know, and what we don’t
Globally, approximately 40% of food is either lost or wasted along the value chain, exposing a major blind spot in food systems. And while 40% of the world’s food is wasted or lost annually, millions of people across the globe face hunger. This fact alone should help us think more critically about the food onContinue reading “How much food does the world waste? What we know, and what we don’t”
Plant-based food alternatives could support a shift to global sustainability: New research
According to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, “Replacing 50% of meat and milk products with plant-based alternatives by 2050 can reduce agriculture and land use related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 31% and halt the degradation of forest and natural land.” (Kozicka et al., 2023) The authors note that, “additional climate andContinue reading “Plant-based food alternatives could support a shift to global sustainability: New research”
Having big meat-eaters reduce their meat consumption is the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road: Study
A recent study published in the journal Nature Food found that big meat-eaters in the United Kingdom (UK) reducing their meat consumption would be the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road. Prof Scarborough, who is part of the Livestock Environment And People (LEAP) project surveyed 55,000 people who were divided into bigContinue reading “Having big meat-eaters reduce their meat consumption is the equivalent of taking 8 million cars off the road: Study”
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”
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29, 2022): Small steps make a difference
September 29th is designated as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. It is estimated that approximately 14% of food produced in the world is lost between harvest and retail, while an estimated 17% of total global food production is wasted. Saving just one-fourth of the food currently lost or wasted aroundContinue reading “International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (September 29, 2022): Small steps make a difference”
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”
Which seafood causes the least damage to the planet? It’s complicated.
In a paper published in the journal Nature, Dr. Jessica Gephart and her colleagues looked at five environmental pressures for aquatic foods including: greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen runoff, phosphorus runoff, freshwater use, and agricultural land use. The scientists examined data from 1,690 farms and 1,000 fishery records worldwide. Here is a summary of their findings,Continue reading “Which seafood causes the least damage to the planet? It’s complicated.”
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