Food system needs urgent reform

The global food system needs urgent reform, less meat consumption and more legumes, as three billion people worldwide are malnourished and food production is exceeding planetary boundaries, scientists have warned in a new report by the EAT-Lancet Commission.

The EAT-Lancet Commission calls for the global food systems to be urgently reformed. Scientists suggests a dietary shift that improves human health and that enables food production in a sustainable manner for the environment.

The need for reform has recently also been underlined by several EEAC member councils. For example, the Council for Sustainable Development in Catalonia has analysed the main challenges facing Catalonia to guarantee, in the mid and the long term, that its population has physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.

In addition, the Dutch Council for the environment and infrastructure recently launched a report in which the council advised on the must do’s to speed up the transition to a healthy and sustainable food system in the Netherlands. The Council’s report focused on animal products, because their production and consumption make a significant contribution to climate change and to public health and environmental problems. Read more