Our current food system is failing both us and our planet. With 690 million people chronically undernourished, two billion suffering micronutrient deficiencies, another two billion overweight or obese, all in the face of biodiversity losses, land conversions, and coastal contaminations — our food system is not compatible with the future.
Currently, the production of food accounts for 80% of land conversion and biodiversity loss and 80% of contamination of freshwater and coastal ecosystems, born of nutrient run-off and chemical pesticides. If the worlds food system doesn’t change, projections suggest the environmental effects will increase by 50-90% by 2050. Using 80% of all freshwater while contributing 20-30% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, unchecked, our food system could cause extinctions, rivers to stop flowing, and the loss of our remaining rainforests.
For a sustainable and nutritious future, CSIRO Chief Research Scientist and research lead Professor Mario Herrero said countries will need to develop ways for sustainably produced healthy foods to be available, affordable, and accessible for all its people. Formulating a range of suggestions for countries, from financial incentives, regulations, and government sustainability initiatives to the development of new technologies, the bottom line for CSIRO is the development of a sustainable food supply chain.
What can you do?
In Australia each person wastes approximately 300kg of food each year, costing the average Australian household $1,036 per annum. Reducing food waste is a large part of the transition to being more sustainable, simply by being more mindful of the effort and impacts of the journey from paddock to plate.
Source:
CSIRO