There are a number of different ways to assess the most eco friendly, sustainable and ethical foods and food diet types.
There are different indicators that can be used, and different ways to measure according to these indicators. So, it’s something that can be very subjective, depending on how these things are done.
In this guide, we attempt to get a general idea of which foods and food diet types might be best according to these different indicators and methods of measurement.
This guide is a complementary guide to our more specific guide about what the most sustainable meats might be.
(*NOTE: this is a general information guide only. It is not professional advice. See a health professional before make changes to your health or diet.)
Summary – Most Sustainable, Eco Friendly & Ethical Foods & Food Diet Types
Most Sustainable
– In General
Sustainable can take into account a range of indicators, but, generally includes food that makes efficient use of resources, doesn’t degrade the environment, and is sustainable economically.
Some of the types of food that might best fit this general criteria might be:
Wild caught food (like pole caught fish from land as opposed to large scale bottom trawling caught seafood for example)
Some plant based foods (as long as they aren’t wasted at a high rate at the consumer level)
Some types of organically or sustainably farmed foods might as well (with a focus on using rainfed farming, preserving soil health and soil structure, and so on).
– Smaller vs Larger Farmed Animals
Smaller farmed animals like chickens might be more sustainable over larger ruminants like cattle according to some measurements.
– Resource Usage
Foods that are land efficient, and minimize their use of irrigated water, and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides might be generally seen as sustainable too.
– Economics
Economically – heavier resource use might not be a bad thing if the agricultural activity creates incomes, employment and livelihoods for local people
So, socio impact must be looked at too, as well as that an agricultural practice actually provides a profit for the farmer.
– The Types Of Resources Used
Heavier resource usage may also not be as much of an issue if it comes from abundant or renewable resources (like rain fed crops, or sustainably managed water sources)
– The Types Of Farming & Food Production Systems & Practices Used
Foods coming from sustainable farming practices and systems might be more sustainable than those coming from an industrial or conventional farming system in some instances
Some food production types like farmed fish and aquaculture can vary with their sustainability footprint, depending on the variables in the farming process.
As just one example, some types of farmed kelp or atlantic salmon can be reasonable sustainable or low impact environmentally in some ways
Most Eco Friendly
– General Criteria For Eco Friendly Foods
Foods that minimize pollution (air, water, land/soil), environmental degradation (carbon footprint for example), and waste (especially toxic or highly hazardous waste), might be the most eco friendly foods.
– Foods Which Might Be More Eco Friendly, Or Less Eco Friendly In Different Ways
Beef is often a food that is referenced as having a higher water, land and carbon footprint relative to other foods.
Animal meats in general may have higher eco footprints.
Some plant based foods can have lower eco footprints in some ways, but may use higher amounts of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers (and, some plant based foods like rice can have large carbon footprints per calorie produced).
Perhaps the most eco friendly food is wild caught food from plant based food that grows naturally in the wild, or from populations of animals that are either over populated or have little pressure on their population numbers (or from a pest, invasive or other problem species).
– Production Systems & Methods Can Impact Eco Friendliness
Some plant based foods may sometimes use more energy in instances where they are produced in greenhouses that use electricity for lighting or heating.
Food from a farm that uses more sustainable farming practices (such as organic fertilizer and natural pest control), might also be most eco friendly in some ways compared to some forms of more intensive farming
Most Ethical
Ethics can be very subjective, because they come down to ethics of the individual, and what they value and the beliefs they have.
Some people for example might have the value system that all animal derived foods are unethical, and stick strictly to a plant based diet.
A good example of a difference in ethics might be illustrated when picking between and comparing different ‘meat products’
Lab grown meat is an interesting example of ethics in food production as it’s generally derived from animal cells.
Plant based meat in comparison is generally sourced from plant based sources.
Some might have a preference for plant based meat in this instance over both real meat and lab grown meat, if their ethics align with not purchasing ‘meat’ derived from live animals.
Each Food Ultimately Needs It’s Own Individual Assessment
It’s worth noting this guide contains broad generalizations only.
To get a more accurate picture, you need to look at the individual indicators and measurements for individual type of food, or food diet type.
In addition to the individual food in question, the farming methods/systems being used, or the food gathering method (such as hunting or fishing), should be examined as well.
Different individual farms might be far more sustainable in their practices than others for example.
What Does Sustainable, Eco Friendly & Ethical Mean? – Broad Definitions
Everyone will have their own definitions and meanings, but in general, they might mean:
Sustainable
It considers factors like environmental degradation, but also resource use, and other factors.
So, the method of gathering wild meat, or the farmed food production process/method/system/approach should be able to be maintained over the long term without depleting resources, degrading the environment, and whilst also considering if something is economically sustainable or not.
It could involve the efficient use of resources (like agricultural land, water, fertilizers and pesticides, soil, and so on).
Eco Friendly
Eco friendliness is mainly pollution, waste, and damage to the environment, ecosystems, wild life and biodiversity.
Eco friendliness can be measured in many different ways – for example, the water footprint, the land footprint, or the carbon footprint of an individual food, or food diet type.
It could also measure the different types of pollution that a particular type of food could contribute to – air pollution, water pollution, land and soil pollution, waste pollution, and so on.
Ethical
Ethics differ between individuals (i.e. they are subjective), and can involve any aspect of food production or food gathering.
Some might only buy non animal derived food products, some might only buy local food product, some might only buy food products with specific certifications or that has been produced in a certain way such as organic, where animals are humanely and safely farmed, and so on.
Hierarchy Of What Might Be The Most Sustainable, Eco Friendly & Ethical Foods
Eco Friendly & Sustainably
– Wild Caught Animals
Some of the most eco friendly and sustainable food might be collected from (in the case of plant based foods) or caught/hunted in (in the case of animal based foods) the wild
Wild collected food relies on natural resources and processes only, doesn’t have to use additional resources like farms have to (such as fertilizer, pesticides, etc), and have a smaller impact on the environment (as a result of less waste, pollution, and so on).
If we use wild caught fish for example, pole caught fish might be better than bottom trawler fishing because of far less chance of overfishing and damage to the ocean floor.
It might also be better to catch fast growing, robust, bottom feeding/low on the food chain fish with stable population numbers (a sardine might be an example).
In regards to wild caught animals, it might even benefit the ecosystem if the species is an invasive species, pest species, overpopulated species or predator species degrading ecological systems and severely damaging the numbers of other species.
One of the problems with wild caught land food though in particular might be scale to provide enough food for the entire human population.
This is where farms are practical for food production.
– Smaller Animals
The next most eco friendly and sustainable type of food might be smaller types of animals like rabbits or chickens that need very little feed (or can even get most or a portion of their feed from foraging about the land), and have a very small land footprint (and can also make use of grazing land and don’t need much cropland, if any).
Chicken eggs in particular can be sustainable when farmed organically, naturally or sustainably because there is no slaughtering required like a meat bird
– Farmed Plant Based Foods
The next most eco friendly and sustainable type of food might be farmed plant based foods, like fruits, vegetables, pulses, grains, and so on.
These foods often have lower eco footprints and don’t need grazing land, but might use more pesticides, and have higher waste rates at the consumer level
– Animal By Products
Animal by products like dairy and regular eggs might be next
– Other Animals Meats
Animal meat might be next (read more about the sustainability of different meats in this guide)
Ruminants and large animals that might eat more, take up more space, or have more intensive feed to produce in particular (we see this with fur farming where the meat based feed for Mink might make Mink farming less sustainable and eco friendly than rabbit and alpaca farming).
Certain meats like beef and to a lesser extent lamb can have especially high resource requirements and high eco impacts in certain ways.
– Types Of Food Diets
The standard/average Western baseline diet with higher levels of sodium, added fats and sweeteners also looks to be less eco friendly and sustainable than some vegetarian, vegan, and ovo-lactarian diet types
– Considering The Type Of Farming & Food Production Methods
There is an asterisk on certain types of farming methods like land farmed seafood, greenhouse grown plant based foods, intensive agriculture vs sustainable agriculture, conventional agriculture vs organic agriculture, and so on.
How the food is farmed can change eco and sustainability outcomes and impact.
– Small vs Large Scale Farming
Also, there’s a comparison between small scale vs large scale farms
Small scale organic farms might have a lower eco impact overall and be more sustainable in some ways (like for example a family that gets eggs from it’s chickens that mostly free roam, or a family that gets milk from a cow that is mostly grass fed … but there’s sources that indicate grass isn’t the best diet for dairy cows)
Larger farming operations might be more resource efficient on average and be able to more effectively feed larger populations, employ more people, and so on (one example – is the claim that some make that operations similar to CAFOs might be more environmentally friendly or resource efficient)
– Sustainability Is More Than Just The Environment
Also, we touched upon it above briefly, but sustainability involves not just eco friendliness and natural resource sustainability, but sustainability of employment, income, profit and ultimately economic livelihood for people and families.
Ethical
As mentioned above, ethics is very subjective, and individuals determine what ethical means to them.
Some considerations with eating more ethical might include:
– Eating plant based foods vs eating animal derived foods
– Individually researching food brands (checking their website and the food packaging)
– Checking for guarantees or certifications on food products
For example, a company or farm that offers free range chicken eggs specify on their packaging or on their website how many birds are on the farm per hectare, whether they have access to roam and forage, whether the farm is independently audited and accredited, and where the farm is located within a country (perhaps locally).
This might be in comparison to caged chickens for example
Similarly, a company might offer canned seafood that is caught according to a recognised sustainably fished/caught certification that you can check the criteria for, before purchasing the seafood
– Checking for more humane treatment of animal practices
In regards to ethics, if animals are caught in the wild – it might be more ethical to make sure the death is quick and humane, as opposed to delayed suffering and pain, such as some types of trapping as one example
– Potential conflict between social priorities, and the use of animals to produce food
An interesting ethical question for vegans and those who only eat plant based foods is – some people are only able to survive in low income regions of the world via animal agriculture, or utilising wild animals for different products.
When the alternative for some of these people might be no income, or unsafe work – animal based food products look like the more ethical option.
How Different Foods, & Food Diet Types Might Rate According To Different Indicators
Some of the following considerations may come up when assessing the sustainability, eco friendliness and ethics of eating some foods, and food diet types:
Water Usage
In terms of water per weight produced, animal meat, and in particular beef can be one of the most water intensive foods.
Poultry can be one of the least water intensive meats.
Other foods containing animal by products, and processed foods can also be water intensive, such as dairy (milk, cheese, butter), chocolate, and even beverages like coffee, soda, beer and wine, and fruit juices (as these beverages often require the growing of plants or crops as part of the ingredients)
Drinking pure water may be the more sustainable option compared to the above beverages
Some sources in particular identify chocolate as being one of the most water intensive foods to produce per kg of weight. Although, per serving, chocolate can fall further down the list
Nuts like peanuts, almonds and ground nuts can fall somewhere between moderate to high water use
Cabbage and lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, oranges corn and potatoes can be some of the least water intensive foods per unit of weight produced
Not all plant based foods have low water footprints though – with olives and rice paddy requiring more water than other plant based foods
Generally though, animal meats and animal based food diets require more water than plant based foods and vegetarian food diets
When looking at food from a water usage per unit of nutritional value produced, the picture looks similar – with beef requiring a lot of water per gram of protein and fat produced, as well per kilocalorie produced.
But fruits for protein, and fruits and starchy roots for fat need far more water than beef, which is interesting – they move much further up the water footprint list
Read more about the individual foods and crops that take the most water to produce, and this guide also outlines everyday items and foods and their water footprint
Read more about how someone might decrease the water footprint in the foods they eat
Note that there’s a different between the types of water used – depleting slow to renew groundwater sources with heavy irrigation might be far worse (especially in areas with low rainfall or increased occurrence of droughts) than the use of highly renewable water sources, or using rain fed agriculture.
Land Use Efficiency (Agricultural Land – Grazing Land, And Cropland)
Per gram of protein, beef/mutton by far uses the most land, followed by pork
Chicken and pork are more land efficient than beef, but still require more land than beans per unit of protein
Reducing beef and mutton intake and switching to meats like poultry and pork can decrease a person’s food related land footprint
Switching to a vegetarian or predominantly plant based food diet type with little to no animal products such as meat, dairy, fish and eggs, can further decrease a person’s food related land footprint
The standard American food diet that uses more animal meat, added fats, and sweeteners may also use more land compared to vegetarian and vegan type diets
Some of these trends can change when measuring other indicators such as per calorie produced, per gram of fat produced, per serving produced, per kg produced, and so on
Trends can also change based on the farming method used, and when measuring total land use as opposed to land use efficiency
Most diets might use a similar amount of crop type land, but animal product foods might use far more grazing land
Read more about the individual foods that take the most land to produce
Read more about the food diet types that take the most land to produce
Read more about how someone might decrease the land footprint in the foods they eat
Synthetic Pesticides & Fertilizers
Different foods use different amounts of total synthetic pesticide and fertilizer chemicals, as well as have different amounts of chemicals applied per square area
In terms of pesticide use by crop in the US, as a percent of total pounds of active ingredient applied, corn uses the most pesticide. It is followed by soybeans, potatoes, cotton and wheat (in that order)
In the US, livestock production is responsible for 37 percent of all applied pesticides – so, livestock is an indirect cause of pesticide use via the animal feed that is grown for them
In the US, kale and spinach have had different studies conducted that show a variety of pesticides found on them
Strawberries, apples, cherries, spinach, and nectarines are some of the other foods that might be found with more pesticide residue on them
In terms of total nitrogen fertilizer applied in California in 2007, cotton received the largest fraction of the total nitrogen applied, 16%, while almond received 15%, rice and wheat each received 10%, processing tomatoes received 7% and lettuce received 6%. Altogether these six crops account for 64% of the total nitrogen use.
Worldwide, the crop with the highest fertilizer application rates in kg per hectare (of nitrogen, phosphate and potash) is bananas
Cereal crops top the total fertilizer usage worldwide as a % at 64% of total fertilizer used
Read more about the crops and foods that take the most fertiliser and pesticides to produce
Read more about how someone might decrease the fertilizer footprint in the foods they eat
Read more about how someone might decrease the pesticide footprint in the foods they eat
Carbon Footprint
Animal based foods tend to have the highest carbon footprint (meats, dairy, some seafood, etc.), along with highly processed foods
Meats like chicken tend to have a lower carbon footprint compared to meats like beef and lamb (beef and lamb/mutton tend to have some of the highest carbon footprints)
Vegetables, fruits, grains and plant based foods tend to have a lower carbon footprint
There are exceptions – some plant based foods grown in some hot and dry climates in the world can have higher carbon footprints, as well as greenhouse grown plant based food that use electricity for lights and so on
Read more about the individual foods with the highest carbon footprints, and also read about some of the everyday products we use with the highest carbon footprints
Read more about how an individual might decrease their carbon footprint with the foods they eat
Carrying Capacity
Vegetarian type food diets, followed by vegan, and then ovo-lactarian food diets might have the largest carrying capacities, in terms of the number of people they can feed in total.
The standard american diet, diets with more animal meats, added fats and added sweeteners, and some highly omnivorous diets tend to have lower carrying capacities
Food Waste
Perishables and foods that are sold fresh like fruits and vegetables are some of the foods with the highest food waste rates by consumers – read more about food waste in this guide
Consumer Level Food Waste Leading To Production Level Resource Waste
When foods are wasted at the consumer level, there is an indirect waste in agricultural resources (irrigated water, cropland, fertilizers, pesticides) at the production level
Higher quality diets (that are more plant based) were associated with greater amounts of food waste at the consumer level, and also greater amounts of wasted irrigation water and wasted pesticide chemicals at the production level
A more Western diet heavier in animal products was associated with more cropland waste and more fertilizer waste (nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertiliser applied to animal feed) at the production level
Organic Farming
Extrapolating information over from our analysis of the farming of organic cotton – we can see that organic farming in general has a list of potential pros and cons to consider for farming food.
For example, there might be more of an emphasis on soil health and naturally derived fertilizers and pest control, but organic farming may lead to lower yields/productivity, and there can be some questions over the real benefits of naturally derived pesticide chemicals – read more about the pros and cons of organic cotton
GMOs
Although there appears to be a current scientific consensus on GMO crops and foods, there is still debate as to whether they should be used or not – read more about the pros and cons of GMO crops and foods
Most Commonly Produced Foods Worldwide
Matching up different indicators with the foods that are actually produced the most worldwide can add some context to the discussion
Read more about the most commonly produced foods worldwide
Specifically – beef is a food that is popular in some countries – read more about the impact of producing beef
Overall Potential Positive Impact Of Agriculture
It can help to know the overall potential positive impact of agriculture on different parts of the world:
Potential positive impact of agriculture on society as a whole
Overall Potential Negative Impact Of Agriculture
It can help to know the overall potential negative impact of agriculture on different parts of the world:
Potential negative impact of agriculture on the environment, and the sustainable use of resources
Potential negative impact of agriculture on humans, human health, society and the economy
Potential negative impact of agriculture on animals, wildlife and biodiversity
Sorting The Different Factors, Indicators & Measurements That Can Be Included In Food Assessments
Breaking down the different factors, indicators and measurements that can be included in assessments:
First Level
– Land Footprint, & Type Of Land
Both crop land and grazing land footprint to produce (both total land, and land efficiency per calorie or gram of protein produced)
Compare this to amount of available cropland, and grazing land in the area
– Carbon Footprint
CO2e, but also individual gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane
– Water Footprint
Irrigated water – compare this to available water resources in the area, and level of rainfall
– Synthetic Pesticide Footprint
Total amount, but also application rates per hectare
– Synthetic Fertilizer Footprint
Nitrogen, potash, phosphorus
Total amount, but also application rates per hectare
– Efficient Use Of Resources
Whether natural resources are used efficiently and sustainably or not
Look at types of resources and inputs used, renewal rates, yields and production, and so on
Second Level
Going a level deeper, you might look at the above factors plus these factors:
– Level of food wastage at the consumer level
– Level of resource wastage at the producer level resulting from food waste rates of different foods at the consumer level (irrigated water, cropland, pesticides, fertilizers, topsoil)
– The maximum carrying capacity a diet type can provide for (population size of people)
Third Level
Going a level deeper than that, you might look at the above factors plus these factors (these factors often have little of no study done on them yet):
Impact on deforestation (if forests are converted into farms or ranches or plantations)
Impact of land clearing and conversion
Impact on the different types of land degradation
Impact on top soil loss and soil health
Pollution caused – air, water, land, soil … and also how it happens e.g. leaching, run off, air drift, etc.
Level and types of waste generated, and how the waste is managed (livestock waste like manure, and general agricultural waste like ag plastics)
Can waste be re-used or recycled – such as turned into compost, organic fertilizer or biogas?
Use of other harmful agricultural chemicals and substances – release of chemicals, bacteria, pathogens, heavy metals, antibiotics etc.
There’s realistically many environmental indicators that foods or any product can be compared against each other in – a few examples are chemistry, resource depletion, eutrophication, global warming, and water scarcity (as we outline in our real leather vs faux leather comparison guide). Toxicity of the farming process, and how farms are powered might be some others
If livestock are treated in an ethical, humane and safe way during farming, and whether any pain or suffering is involved at the birthing, storing/confinement/housing, vet and medical procedure, transport/export, and slaughtering stage. Also look at the health care available to livestock during farming. Is there any risk of development and spread of animal diseases and sicknesses?
How wildlife and plant species are impacted from production
Impact on biodiversity (specifically with biodiversity, farmers have to weigh this issue up, along with meeting the nutritional needs of the population, and profitably running their own business. So, there can be tradeoffs. Additionally, most of the energy intake for humans currently comes from a small number of crops and animals, which is less biodiverse than a century ago – we might ask how sustainable this is). Smithsonianmag.com mentions how the Irish potato famine was related to lack of biodiversity
How much income and employment the agricultural activity generates, and it’s value to the economy
Whether the food products provide a sole source or majority source of income for people in the area, and whether it contributes to better investment in the local community and conservation of the environment and ecosystem
Where the food comes from – local, or non local?
How and where is the food packaged?
How far does the food have to travel/be transported to get to the consumer, and what type of transport is used (air, road, water, rail?)? What is the impact of that transport? In some instances, a longer sea freight can be better than a shorter road freight (but it depends)
Are GMOs used for the seeds?
Are hormones used? What about vet medicines?
Are there problems with food distribution system in terms of ensuring everyone in the world has enough food to produce and eat?
Does the food or food diet type have the adequate nutrition, and is it healthy and safe for the person eating it? (fao.org has a good resource that outlines the main nutrients in different food groups, such as roots and tubers, animal products, and so on)
Is the food or food diet type affordable, accessible and convenient enough for individuals to buy, store, prepare and eat?
Does the food or food diet type cater to everyone’s health and nutrition requirements?
How does the farming method used (sustainable, organic, conventional, intensive, commercial, industrial, etc) impact the environment, resources, animals, wildlife, biodiversity, the economy, profit, employment, yields and so on?
How do the types of foods being produced and imported within a country contribute to providing food for the whole population, and a growing population into the future?
Zooming out and looking at how some countries are net exporters of certain foods, and some countries are net importers of certain foods, how does the overall food export and import situation around the world impact what foods might be available to populations in different countries? (nationalgeographic.org and many other resources point out that crops grown in one place are often exported to another, and don’t always feed the local population)
What types of foods can realistically be grown in the area given the climate/weather conditions, soil and land types available, rainfall and water supplies for agriculture, and given the economy and agricultural technology and resources available?
What sort of guarantees or certifications does the farm offer or list for how they produce their food?
How safe is the food – does it contain pesticide residue or expose people to animal antibiotics or certain bacteria and pathogens (directly or indirectly)
Does the food production have a higher level of occupational health and safety risk for farm workers – from organic matter, animal manure, pesticides, farm machinery, farm conditions etc.
Are farm workers paid fairly and do they work in fair conditions
Does the food production negatively impact a country or specific countries in any way – for example, avocado production in Mexico can have negative consequences
Consider the whole lifecycle of the food product and the results/impact at each stage – growing/farm, processing, transport, stocking/storefront for purchase, eating, and disposal or waste
Potential Competing Factors To Eating A Sustainable, Eco Friendly & Ethical Food Diet
For The Buyer/Consumer
– Price of the food for consumers
Affordable vs expensive
– How practical/convenient is it to purchase the food
From a time and location perspective for the consumer
Can they go to the local supermarket, or do they have to make trips to specialty stores and markets further from their homes?
– Knowledge of how to prepare, or ease to prepare the food
Can the food be eaten as it is, or does it take time and certain knowledge to cook and prepare it?
– Buying for several people in the same house
Families and purchasing for families will have different food purchasing consideration to people who are single for example
– What is going to last, or what is going to waste
Vegetables and fruits tend to waste quicker than processed and canned foods
– What is healthy
Foods with saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar might present more of a long term health risk in developing certain health conditions than healthier non processed foods
– What is nutritious
Nutrients can be macro or micro nutrients. Some people may be concerned whether they are getting enough of the nutrients they want or need with a change in foods/diet
– What fits in with allergies, intolerances and any individual dietary requirements
Some people may not be able to eat certain foods due to certain dietary requirements or medical conditions.
Some people may have intolerances to plant based foods, and may need animal meat in their diet for example
– What has enough calories
Some vegetables for example you my have to purchase and eat a lot more of than processed foods (which are usually loaded with calories) to get the same amount of calories
– Taste
Some people may really not like the taste of some plant based foods compared to processed foods for example. It’s hard to stick to foods long term that you don’t enjoy the taste of
– The person themselves
Some people may be more willing than other to do what is required to change their diet and the foods they eat.
Also, what an individual thinks is morally right and not right will be an influence (some people might have differing views on using animals in different ways for food production)
– Information available
Measuring sustainability, eco friendliness and ethics can get very detailed and complex.
Some factors haven’t been studied or reported on yet.
– Also, there’s no real way of guaranteeing how some foods you buy were produced unless you buy direct from the supplier.
– These things can make it hard to buy truly sustainable, eco friendly and ethical. It’s logical to say most people probably don’t have the time to research the information and find out where foods are sourced from (and know how exactly they are made) either.
For Farmers & Producers
– What is profitable
Making money, having low financial risk and ultimately being able to operate a sustainable business is a huge priority for farmers and food producers
– What is practical
How easy the food is to produce, available resources (water, land and types of land, soil, nutrients, seeds, animals, machinery etc.), growing conditions and seasons (different geographic locations can differ with what can and can’t be produced in a particular place), what can be transported, and other factors, are all things farmers have to consider from a practicality standpoint in deciding what they can produce
Government, Policy Makers & Others
There are other bodies and organisations that can have an impact on the food supply and food production within countries, and between countries.
This can happen through laws, regulations, guidelines, policies, systems, relations, economics and more
Food Nutrition & How Foods Impact Health Also Matters
A few additional notes on food nutrition are:
– The type of diet can impact morbidity and mortality, including what additives and bad nutrients are in the foods in the diet
– Undernutrition can be a problem specifically in less developed countries
– The overall quality and diversity of food available to a population matter. There should obviously be food with quality nutrients, and diversity of nutrients available
– Individuals will have different health requirements, intolerances and negative reactions to certain foods, and preferences
[What several sources point out is that] a Western diet (high in bad fats, sodium, sweeteners, and animal based products) has present prominent risk factors linked to higher rates of morbidity and mortality (journals.plos.org)
Undernutrition causes over 15% of the global disease burden.
Protein energy and micronutrient malnutrition remain challenges, with high variability between and within countries.
Food security can be improved through policies and programs to increase dietary diversity and through development and deployment of existing and new technologies for production, processing, preservation, and distribution of food.
– greenfacts.org
Reduced dietary quality and diversity and inexpensive foods with low nutrient density have been associated with increasing rates of worldwide obesity and chronic disease.
Poor diet throughout the life course is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, which are the leading cause of global deaths.
– greenfacts.org
Other Considerations For Foods & Food Diets
Sustainability also involves other factors like nutrition (macro nutrients, micro nutrients, calories, complete proteins and amino acid profiles), food preferences, whether or not individuals and families can afford certain types of foods, time and geographical limitations and barriers, and other practical considerations for the types of foods that can be produced, and people can get physical access to.
Distribution of food worldwide might also be a consideration.
There’s always variables and trade offs to consider with all foods and food production methods and practices – each situation has to be assessed separately on it’s own variables and trade offs/pros and cons.
Different wild food gathering practices can be compared, different farms can be compared in different regions and countries, and developed vs developing countries can be compared, just as a few examples.
Even developed countries can differ in their farming methods used for the same food product (e.g. US vs Australian beef production)
Factors That Can Impact Agriculture & Food Production
Factors that may impact our ability to produce food and that may impact the agricultural industry might include:
– The wants and needs of the population and the consumer (diet choices and requirements, as well as nutrition and other factors)
– Agricultural policies, incentives, markets or consumption patterns
– The difference in agricultural and food production capabilities of developed vs developing countries
– Geographic factors like climate, accessibility, trade and culture. smithsonianmag.com for example mentions how coffee yields have been cut in half in Tanzania since 1960 because of droughts and temperature changes. There’s also several factors to keep in mind that can impact how and where crops grow worldwide. fao.org mentions how crops need to be suitable for the source area they are grown in, and list other characteristics of staple foods in a local area
– Increasingly in some countries, the influence of biotechnology and GMO crop/food technology, GMO companies, and other modern agricultural technology
– The emergence of new food production or emerging food production like lab grown meat, and fish farming
Sources
1. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/foods-that-waste-the-most-resources-during-production-cropland-irrigated-water-pesticides-fertilizer/
2. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/which-type-of-food-diet-can-support-feed-the-most-people-in-society-how-many-people-food-carrying-capacity/
3. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/types-of-food-diets-that-use-the-most-least-amount-of-land/
4. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/foods-crops-that-use-the-most-pesticides-fertilisers-to-produce/
5. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/foods-that-take-the-most-land-to-produce-make/
6. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/foods-that-take-the-most-water-to-produce-make/
7. https://www.bettermeetsreality.com/foods-with-the-highest-carbon-footprint-impact-on-climate-change/
8. https://www.feedipedia.org/content/world-cereal-use-animal-feeding
9. Conrad, Z., Niles, M.T., Neher, D.A., Roy, E.D., Tichenor, N.E. and Jahns, L., 2018. Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability. PloS one, 13(4), p.e0195405. – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195405
10. https://www.greenfacts.org/en/agriculture-iaastd/l-2/5-health-and-agriculture.htm
11. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/maps/wbt-staple-food-crops-world/
12. https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0712/top-agricultural-producing-countries.aspx
13. https://www.cbd.int/agro/Whatstheproblem.shtml
14. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/extinction-threatens-foods-we-eat-180965081/
15. http://www.fao.org/3/u8480e/u8480e07.htm
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