Towards Sustainable Diets and Food SystemsFood Systems

Abstract

Modern food systems provide nutrition to meet the societal demands of a growing global population. Food systems impact both human and planetary health by providing nutrition but also emitting pollution and using natural resources. The global food system, including agriculture, storage, transportation, processing, packaging, retail, and consumption, has a very large impact on global warming and biodiversity loss. Diets become both healthier and more sustainable as they emphasize plant-based, whole, and seasonal foods, and reduce food waste. Actions for improved sustainability include advising a healthy whole food plant-centric diet and calling for an end to subsidies of foods that are damaging to health and the environment.