Optimization of Different Carbohydrate-rich Foods Combining Carbon Footprint and Nutritional Value

Abstract

Background: The food system significantly contributes to global carbon emissions. Carbohydrate-rich (CR) foods are very important components of Chinese traditional foods. However, it is often neglected because animal-based foods are considered as more efficient to reduce GHG emissions. Optimized dietaries through linear programming considering nutrients intake and carbon emissions have raised attention of many researchers. Objectives: This study was highlighted on the carbon emissions of 19 common CR foods consumption in China and tried to develop a sustainable dietary scenario that can be both environment friendly and healthy. Results: Results showed that when providing sufficient nutrients, optimized refined grain produced much higher carbon emissions than the current CR food diet. A theoretical dietary pattern and a realistic dietary pattern could reduce carbon emissions significantly. Rice and tailored flour consumption substituted by whole grains, beans and tuber foods can both reduce GHG emissions and increase nutrients intake. Due to the demand difference in nutrients, dietary structure of males and females were significantly different. Conclusion: The importance of this study was showed implied potential for reducing carbon emissions from CR foods that was neglected usually. Besides, sustainable CR foods dietary patterns also generated to combine ecological and nutritional aspects.