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Auclair O, Eustachio Colombo P, Milner J, Burgos SA. Partial substitutions of animal with plant protein foods in Canadian diets have synergies and trade-offs among nutrition, health and climate outcomes. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:148-157. [PMID: 38365909 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-00925-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Dietary guidelines emphasize the consumption of plant protein foods, but the implications of replacing animal with plant sources on a combination of diet sustainability dimensions are unknown. Using a combination of data from a national nutrition survey, greenhouse gas emissions from dataFIELD and relative risks from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, we assess the impact of partially substituting red and processed meat or dairy with plant protein foods in Canadian self-selected diets on nutrition, health and climate outcomes. The substitutions induced minor changes to the percentage of the population below requirements for nutrients of concern, but increased calcium inadequacy by up to 14% when dairy was replaced. Replacing red and processed meat or dairy increased life expectancy by up to 8.7 months or 7.6 months, respectively. Diet-related greenhouse gas emissions decreased by up to 25% for red and processed meat and by up to 5% for dairy replacements. Co-benefits of partially substituting red and processed meat with plant protein foods among nutrition, health and climate outcomes are relevant for reshaping consumer food choices in addressing human and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Auclair
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Patricia Eustachio Colombo
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - James Milner
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Burgos
- Department of Animal Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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van Zanten HHE, Simon W, van Selm B, Wacker J, Maindl TI, Frehner A, Hijbeek R, van Ittersum MK, Herrero M. Circularity in Europe strengthens the sustainability of the global food system. NATURE FOOD 2023; 4:320-330. [PMID: 37117548 PMCID: PMC10154194 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-023-00734-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Redesigning the European food system on the basis of circularity principles could bring environmental benefits for Europe and the world. Here we deploy a biophysical optimization model to explore the effects of adopting three circularity scenarios in the European Union (EU)27 + UK. We calculate a potential reduction of 71% in agricultural land use and 29% per capita in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while producing enough healthy food within a self-sufficient European food system. Under global food shortages, savings in agricultural land could be used to feed an additional 767 million people outside the EU (+149%), while reducing per capita greenhouse gas emissions by 38% but increasing overall emissions by 55% due to the increased population served. Transitioning the EU's food system towards circularity implies sequential changes among all its components and has great potential to safeguard human and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- H H E van Zanten
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
- Department of Global Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - W Simon
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - B van Selm
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Animal Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J Wacker
- Farming Systems Ecology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - T I Maindl
- SDB Science-driven Business Ltd, Larnaca, Cyprus
| | - A Frehner
- Department of Food System Sciences, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, Switzerland
| | - R Hijbeek
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M K van Ittersum
- Plant Production Systems Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - M Herrero
- Department of Global Development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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Richter S, Muller A, Stolze M, Schneider I, Schader C. Acceptance of meat reduction policies in Switzerland. iScience 2023; 26:106129. [PMID: 36876130 PMCID: PMC9976463 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the acceptance of different policy measures affecting meat consumption in Switzerland. We conducted qualitative interviews with leading stakeholders and elaborated 37 policy measures for reducing meat consumption. In a standardized survey, we analyzed the acceptance of these measures and important preconditions for their implementation. Measures with potentially the biggest direct leverage, such as a VAT increase on meat products, were highly rejected. We found high levels of acceptance for measures that do not directly affect meat consumption but have the potential for significant changes of meat consumption in the longer run - such as research investment and sustainable diet education. Furthermore, some measures with considerable short-term effects were widely accepted (e.g., stricter animal welfare standards, ban of meat advertisements). These measures could be a promising starting point for policy makers aiming at a transformation of the food system toward lower levels of meat consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Richter
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomics, Ackerstrasse 113/Postfach 219, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Muller
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomics, Ackerstrasse 113/Postfach 219, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), Department of Environmental Systems Science, Sonneggstrasse, 338092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Stolze
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomics, Ackerstrasse 113/Postfach 219, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Schneider
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomics, Ackerstrasse 113/Postfach 219, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schader
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Department of Socioeconomics, Ackerstrasse 113/Postfach 219, CH-5070 Frick, Switzerland
- Corresponding author
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Understanding food sustainability from a consumer perspective: A cross cultural exploration. Int J Gastron Food Sci 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2022.100646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Verbraucherstrategien für ein nachhaltigeres
Ernährungssystem: Erkenntnisse aus der Schweiz. AKTUELLE ERNÄHRUNGSMEDIZIN 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1859-1930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
In Ländern mit hohem Einkommen haben die derzeitigen
Ernährungsgewohnheiten und die damit verbundene
Nahrungsmittelproduktion erhebliche Auswirkungen auf verschiedene
Nachhaltigkeitsbereiche. Der Übergang zu einer Ernährung,
die mehr verarbeitete und raffinierte Produkte mit einem höheren
Anteil an tierischen Lebensmitteln enthält, hat diese noch
verschärft. Der jüngste Bericht des Ausschusses für
Klimaänderungen IPCC kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass die Landwirtschaft
23–34% der weltweiten anthropogenen Treibhausgasemissionen
verursacht.
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