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Bakman T, Hoffmann BS, Portugal-Pereira J. A recipe for change: Analyzing the climate and ecosystem impacts of the Brazilian diet shift. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 930:172568. [PMID: 38649048 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Diet shift is an opportunity to mitigate the impacts of food systems, which are responsible for about a third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally and exert various environmental pressures on ecosystems. This study evaluates the mitigation potential of both global and local environmental impacts through dietary changes within the Brazilian context. Furthermore, the study aims to identify the potential benefits and trade-offs that may arise from these dietary transitions, thus providing a comprehensive analysis of the overall environmental implications. To this end, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of a conventional diet in Brazil and seven alternatives, namely adjusted-EAT-Lancet, pescatarian, vegetarian, entomophagic (insect-based food), mycoprotein (microbial-based food), and synthetic (cell-based food) diets. Results indicate a substantial mitigation potential for GHG emissions (4-9 kg CO2e/cap/day) (39 % to 86 %) and land use (4-9 m2/cap/day) (38 % to 82 %) through a diet shift from a conventional diet to any of the seven alternative diets. However, certain trade-offs exist. A diet shift demonstrates no mitigation potential of soil acidification, and opportunities to reduce water eutrophication (0.02-0.2 g Pe/cap/day) (2 % to 24 %) and water consumption (0.2-0.5 m3/cap/day) (7 % to 14 %) were only found by completely substituting animal products for insect-based food, microbial-based food, and cell-based food. This study highlights the considerable potential of dietary changes to mitigate global environmental impacts associated with food systems. By revealing opportunities and challenges, this study supports science-based decision-making and guides efforts toward sustainable and environmentally friendly food consumption patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Bakman
- Centre for Energy and Environmental Economics (CENERGIA), Energy Planning Program (PPE), COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-917, Brazil.
| | - Bettina Susanne Hoffmann
- Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-917, Brazil
| | - Joana Portugal-Pereira
- Centre for Energy and Environmental Economics (CENERGIA), Energy Planning Program (PPE), COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-917, Brazil; Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, IN+, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
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Leonard UM, Leydon CL, Arranz E, Kiely ME. Impact of consuming an environmentally protective diet on micronutrients: a systematic literature review. Am J Clin Nutr 2024; 119:927-948. [PMID: 38569787 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A global move toward consumption of diets from sustainable sources is required to protect planetary health. As this dietary transition will result in greater reliance on plant-based protein sources, the impact on micronutrient (MN) intakes and status is unknown. OBJECTIVE Evaluate the evidence of effects on intakes and status of selected MNs resulting from changes in dietary intakes to reduce environmental impact. Selected MNs of public health concern were vitamins A, D, and B12, folate, calcium, iron, iodine, and zinc. METHODS We systematically searched 7 databases from January 2011 to October 2022 and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies had to report individual MN intake and/or status data collected in free-living individuals from the year 2000 onward and environmental outcomes. RESULTS From the 10,965 studies identified, 56 studies were included, mostly from high-income countries (n = 49). Iron (all 56) and iodine (n = 20) were the most and least reported MNs, respectively. There was one randomized controlled trial (RCT) that also provided the only biomarker data, 10 dietary intake studies, and 45 dietary modeling studies, including 29 diet optimization studies. Most studies sought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or intake of animal-sourced foods. Most results suggested that intakes of zinc, calcium, iodine, and vitamins B12, A, and D would decrease, and total iron and folate would increase in a dietary transition to reduce environmental impacts. Risk of inadequate intakes of zinc, calcium, vitamins A, B12 and D were more likely to increase in the 10 studies that reported nutrient adequacy. Diet optimization (n = 29) demonstrated that meeting nutritional and environmental targets is technically feasible, although acceptability is not guaranteed. CONCLUSIONS Lower intakes and status of MNs of public health concern are a potential outcome of dietary changes to reduce environmental impacts. Adequate consideration of context and nutritional requirements is required to develop evidence-based recommendations. This study was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42021239713).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula M Leonard
- Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Clarissa L Leydon
- Centre for Health and Diet Research, School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Arranz
- Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mairead E Kiely
- Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Aljahdali AA, Campos H, Granados K, Jones AD, Baylin A. Diet-Attributable Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Costa Rica Heart Study. Nutrients 2023; 16:138. [PMID: 38201967 PMCID: PMC10780829 DOI: 10.3390/nu16010138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Adopting sustainable dietary patterns is essential for planetary and human health. As data to address this issue are lacking in Latino populations, this study examined the association between diet-attributable greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) and myocardial infarction (MI) in a Costa Rica Heart Study. This analysis included 1817 cases of a first non-fatal acute MI during hospitalization and their matched population-based controls, by age, sex, and area of residence. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to quantify habitual dietary intake and diet-attributable GHGEs (kg CO2 equivalent (eq.)/year). Due to the matching design, conditional logistic regression was used. Red meat consumption contributed approximately 50% to the total diet-attributable GHGEs among both cases and controls. Higher diet-attributable GHGEs were associated with increased odds of acute MI. The odds of MI were 63% higher (OR = 1.63; 95% CI 1.20-2.21) among participants in the highest quintile (median diet-attributable GHGEs = 6247 kg CO2 eq./year) compared to the lowest quintile (median diet-attributable GHGEs = 2065 kg CO2 eq./year). An increasing linear trend in the odds of acute MI and diet-attributable GHGEs was detected (p-trend 0.0012). These findings highlight the importance of reducing red meat consumption to sustainably mitigate the incidence of MI and improve planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer A. Aljahdali
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
| | - Hannia Campos
- Center for Research and Innovation in Translational Nutrition, Universidad Hispanoamericana, San Jose 10101, Costa Rica; (H.C.); (K.G.)
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Keylin Granados
- Center for Research and Innovation in Translational Nutrition, Universidad Hispanoamericana, San Jose 10101, Costa Rica; (H.C.); (K.G.)
| | - Andrew D. Jones
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ana Baylin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Department of Global Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Yang S, Bhargava N, O'Connor A, Gibney ER, Feeney EL. Dairy consumption in adults in China: a systematic review. BMC Nutr 2023; 9:116. [PMID: 37865793 PMCID: PMC10590529 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-023-00781-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on dairy consumption in China is lacking, however, some evidence has demonstrated significant changes in recent years, with a reported increase in the overall consumption of dairy products. To fully understand these changes, a systematic review was conducted to examine reported dairy intakes and differences between dairy consumption in different population groups in China. METHODS Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed databases were searched for studies published from January 2000 to September 2022. The China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) was used to retrieve papers available in Chinese. Papers reporting dietary intakes of dairy consumption across age, sex, and geographical location sub-groups were considered for inclusion in this review. In addition, this review includes the consumption of different types of dairy foods and changes in dairy intake over time. RESULTS Forty-seven papers were included in the present study. Twelve papers examined dairy consumption across age groups, showing that middle-aged adults tend to consume less dairy than other age groups. Studies comparing across location-specific cohorts reported dairy intakes among urban populations were higher than rural, as well as being higher than the national average. Coastal, Northern and Eastern residents consumed more dairy products than those living in other regions of China, and people in larger cities had higher reported intakes than smaller cities. Milk was the primary dairy product reportedly consumed by Chinese population, followed by yogurt. Concerning sex, evidence showed that females generally reported a greater daily dairy intake than males. CONCLUSIONS This review shows that, in China, several different population groups displayed significant differences in the amount and type of dairy consumed. When considering the incorporation of dairy products into healthy eating guidelines or positioning specific dairy products on the market, it is important to consider the differences and variations in consumption patterns within population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhua Yang
- Food for Health Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Nupur Bhargava
- Food for Health Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Aileen O'Connor
- Food for Health Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Eileen R Gibney
- Food for Health Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland
| | - Emma L Feeney
- Food for Health Ireland, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
- Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Republic of Ireland.
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Nordman M, Lassen AD, Stockmarr A, van ‘t Veer P, Biesbroek S, Trolle E. Exploring healthy and climate-friendly diets for Danish adults: an optimization study using quadratic programming. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1158257. [PMID: 37396137 PMCID: PMC10307962 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1158257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A transition to healthy and sustainable diets has the potential to improve human and planetary health but diets need to meet requirements for nutritional adequacy, health, environmental targets, and be acceptable to consumers. Objective The objective of this study was to derive a nutritionally adequate and healthy diet that has the least deviation possible from the average observed diet of Danish adults while aiming for a greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) reduction of 31%, corresponding to the GHGE level of the Danish plant-rich diet, which lays the foundation for the current healthy and sustainable food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) in Denmark. Methods With an objective function minimizing the departure from the average observed diet of Danish adults, four diet optimizations were run using quadratic programming, with different combinations of diet constraints: (1) nutrients only (Nutri), (2) nutrients and health-based targets for food amounts (NutriHealth), (3) GHGE only (GHGE), and finally, (4) combined nutrient, health and GHGE constraints (NutriHealthGHGE). Results The GHGE of the four optimized diets were 3.93 kg CO2-eq (Nutri), 3.77 kg CO2-eq (NutriHealth) and 3.01 kg CO2-eq (GHGE and NutriHealthGHGE), compared to 4.37 kg CO2-eq in the observed diet. The proportion of energy from animal-based foods was 21%-25% in the optimized diets compared to 34% in the observed diet and 18% in the Danish plant-rich diet. Moreover, compared to the average Danish diet, the NutriHealthGHGE diet contained more grains and starches (44 E% vs. 28 E%), nuts (+230%), fatty fish (+89%), eggs (+47%); less cheese (-73%), animal-based fats (-76%), total meat (-42%); and very limited amounts of ruminant meat, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages (all-90%), while the amounts of legumes and seeds were unchanged. On average, the mathematically optimized NutriHealthGHGE diet showed a smaller deviation from the average Danish diet compared to the Danish plant-rich diet (38% vs. 169%, respectively). Conclusion The final optimized diet presented in this study represents an alternative way of composing a nutritionally adequate and healthy diet that has the same estimated GHGE as a diet consistent with the climate-friendly FBDGs in Denmark. As this optimized diet may be more acceptable for some consumers, it might help to facilitate the transition toward more healthy and sustainable diets in the Danish population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda Nordman
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Dahl Lassen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Stockmarr
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pieter van ‘t Veer
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sander Biesbroek
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ellen Trolle
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Exploring culturally acceptable, nutritious, affordable and low climatic impact diet for Japanese diets: proof of concept of applying a new modelling approach using data envelopment analysis. Br J Nutr 2022; 128:2438-2452. [PMID: 35022105 PMCID: PMC9723491 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114522000095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A future sustainable dietary pattern for Japanese is yet undefined. This study aimed to explore more sustainable Japanese diets that are nutritious, affordable and with low greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and particular emphasis on cultural acceptability. A newly developed data envelopment analysis (DEA) diet model was applied to 4-d dietary record data among 184 healthy Japanese men and 185 women volunteers aged 21-69 years. Alternative diets were calculated as the linear combinations of observed diets. Firstly, for each individual, four modelled diets were calculated that maximised cultural acceptability (i.e. minimise dietary change from observed diet), maximised nutritional quality assessed by the Nutrient-Rich Food Index (NRF), minimised monetary diet costs or minimised diet-related GHGE. The final modelled diet combined all four indicators. In the first four models, the largest improvement was obtained for each targeted indicator separately, while relatively small improvements or unwanted changes were observed for other indicator. When all indicators were aimed to optimise, the NRF score and diet-related GHGE were improved by 8-13 % with the lower monetary cost than observed diets, although the percentage improvement was a bit smaller than the separate models. The final modelled diets demanded increased intakes for whole grains, fruits, milk/cream/yogurt, legumes/nuts, and decreased intakes for red and processed meat, sugar/confectioneries, alcoholic and sweetened beverages, and seasonings in both sexes. In conclusion, more sustainable dietary patterns considering several indicators are possible for Japanese, while total improvement is moderate due to trade-offs between indicators and methodological limitation of DEA diet model.
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Wang L, Huang W, Zhao C, Hu Y, Cui S. Exploring the environment-nutrition-obesity effects associated with food consumption in different groups in China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115287. [PMID: 35642807 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Unsustainable diet is one of the main reasons for the nutrition-health-environment trilemma. However, information on environment-nutrition-obesity effects associated with food consumption is still limited. This study analyzes these diet-related impacts of different groups classified by various socio-economic attributes: location, gender, age, income, education, and occupation. We applied the samples in China Health and Nutrition Survey and divided them into advantaged group and dis-advantaged group according to the probability of access to more nutritious food. Results show that the advantaged groups had higher and more rapidly increasing dietary and nutrition quality than their counterpart during 1997-2011. On the contrary, the non-advantaged group' body mass index increased faster. Meanwhile, the high-income group as well as government and professional & technological workers have passed the criterion for overweight. The environmental footprints, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, and water footprints, of high-income group were higher 89%, 70%, 98%, and 41% than low-income group, respectively. Notably, food consumption sustainability of each group has declined, and the non-advantaged groups' is much more sustainable. We concluded that inequality existed and tends to expand in food consumption and its related impacts of different socio-economic groups. A reformed responsibility allocation system is needed during dietary transition for better environmental management. Strategies to improve dietary quality for advantaged group focus on improving the types of high-quality protein foods, such as milk and seafood, while the non-advantaged group can choose to increase the types of high-quality but relatively cheap foods like vegetables and fruits considering the availability and living cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization jointly built by Henan Province and Ministry of Education, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Xiamen Key Lab of Urban Metabolism, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China
| | - Chuan Zhao
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan
| | - Yuanchao Hu
- School of Resource and Environmental Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Shenghui Cui
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19(A) Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Chen C, Chaudhary A, Mathys A. Dietary Change and Global Sustainable Development Goals. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.771041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Food production for human consumption is a leading cause of environmental damage in the world and yet over two billion people suffer from malnutrition. Several studies have presented evidence that changes in dietary patterns across the world can lead to win-win outcomes for environmental and social sustainability and can complement ongoing technological and policy efforts to improve the efficiency of agricultural production. However, the existing evidence have been compiled in “silos” by a large range of researchers across several disciplines using different indicators. The aim of this quantitative review is to bring together the existing knowledge on heterogeneity of current dietary patterns across the world and how a transition toward healthy diets in different countries can aid in progress toward multiple global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We first summarize the nutritional quality, economic cost, and environmental footprint of current diets of over 150 countries using multiple indicators. Next, we review which shifts in dietary patterns across different world regions can help toward achievement of SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG3 (Good health and wellbeing), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), SDG13 (Climate action), SDG14 (Life below water), and SDG15 (Life on land). Finally, we briefly discuss how to enable the shift toward sustainable dietary patterns and identify the research and data gaps that need to be filled through future efforts. Our analysis reveals that dietary change is necessary in all countries as each one has unique priorities and action items. For regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, increased intake of nutrient dense foods is needed to address deficiency of essential nutrients like folate, potassium, and vitamin A. For North America and Europe, shifting toward more plant-based diets would be healthier and simultaneously reduce the per capita environmental footprints. The results can be useful for policymakers in designing country-specific strategies for adoption of sustainable dietary behaviors and for food industry to ensure the supply of sustainable food items customized with regions' need.
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Environmental and Health-Related Lifecycle Impact Assessment of Reduced-Salt Meals in Japan. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14148265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To achieve sustainable development goals, meals should promote environmental protection and good health. The excessive salt intake of the Japanese people is one cause of lifestyle diseases. This study evaluated the impact of reducing salt intake on the environment and human health. Over one week, this study compared the lifecycle of a model meal based on a Japanese person’s average food intake with a reduced-salt meal, by replacing seasoning/salt with low-salt substitutes. We conducted an inventory assessment of the carbon and water consumption footprints based on the items used in the ingredient and cooking stages. The impact on climate and water consumption was determined using the results of the inventory assessment of the damage factors. We took the global burden of disease result as the health impact of salt intake. The decreased health impact of reduced salt was based on the results of a previous study. The health impact of the ingredient stage of both meals was almost the same. Regarding the assessment of the health impact, the value of the reduced-salt meal was 30% lower than that of the model meal because the salt intake was reduced by 2.8 g per day. We found that the reduced-salt meal could decrease the overall human health impact by 20% because of the reduced incidence of salt-intake-related diseases, despite a small increase in the health impact of reduced-salt seasonings.
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Kong C, Yang L, Gong H, Wang L, Li H, Li Y, Wei B, Nima C, Deji Y, Zhao S, Guo M, Gu L, Yu J, Gesang Z, Li R. Dietary and Food Consumption Patterns and Their Associated Factors in the Tibetan Plateau Population: Results from 73 Counties with Agriculture and Animal Husbandry in Tibet, China. Nutrients 2022; 14:1955. [PMID: 35565921 PMCID: PMC9103862 DOI: 10.3390/nu14091955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary imbalances are an important cause of morbidity and mortality, both in China and globally. Abnormal element content in the natural environment and the unbalanced dietary structure of populations coexist in the Tibetan Plateau. This study analyzed the dietary and food consumption patterns of 617 Tibetan residents and their associated factors. Cluster analysis revealed three modes of dietary pattern; the food consumption scores (FCSs) of subjects in modes with relatively high consumption frequency of staple food and relatively singular dietary structure were the lowest. Although the FCSs of most subjects were acceptable (FCS > 35), subjects with relatively low FCSs were more dependent on locally cultivated highland barley that is probably low in selenium. Hierarchical linear models revealed both individual−family and regional factors were significantly related (p values < 0.05) with the food consumption of subjects as follows: age, travel time from township to county, and cultivation area of highland barley were negatively related; numbers of individuals aged 40−60 years and pork, beef, and mutton production were positively related. Individuals with secondary or higher education had higher FCSs. A single indicator may be incomprehensive in dietary and food consumption studies. For people with a relatively unbalanced diet, an analysis of the main foods they consume is critical. Dietary and food consumption patterns might have relatively large inter-regional and intra-regional variations; therefore, factors that influence it might be multi-level and multi-scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Kong
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Linsheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongqiang Gong
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Hairong Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yonghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Binggan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Cangjue Nima
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Yangzong Deji
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Shengcheng Zhao
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Min Guo
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Lijuan Gu
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jiangping Yu
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (C.K.); (L.Y.); (L.W.); (Y.L.); (B.W.); (L.G.); (J.Y.)
| | - Zongji Gesang
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
| | - Rujun Li
- Tibet Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Lhasa 850030, China; (H.G.); (C.N.); (Y.D.); (S.Z.); (M.G.); (Z.G.); (R.L.)
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11
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Shi R, Irfan M, Liu G, Yang X, Su X. Analysis of the Impact of Livestock Structure on Carbon Emissions of Animal Husbandry: A Sustainable Way to Improving Public Health and Green Environment. Front Public Health 2022; 10:835210. [PMID: 35223746 PMCID: PMC8873578 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.835210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon emissions of animal husbandry have been gaining increasing attention due to their high share in global carbon emissions. In this regard, it is essential to assess the regional differences, dynamic evolution patterns, convergence characteristics, and the impact of livestock structure on carbon emissions of animal husbandry. Using data from 30 provincial administrative regions from 2000 to 2018 in China, this study employs the Thiel index method, kernel density analysis, and convergence analysis to quantify the impact of livestock structure on carbon emissions of animal husbandry. The statistical results reveal that carbon emissions of animal husbandry exhibit a rising and declining trend. Specifically, the carbon emissions of animal husbandry are highest in agricultural areas (with a declining trend), followed by agro-pastoral areas (with a declining trend), and the pastoral areas (with a rising trend). It is further revealed that there are no δ convergence and β convergence of carbon emissions of animal husbandry. Finally, essential and useful policy recommendations are put forward to inhibit carbon emissions of animal husbandry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubiao Shi
- School of Marxism, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Department of Public Instruction, Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yantai, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- Department of Business Administration, Ilma University, Karachi, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Muhammad Irfan
| | - Guangliang Liu
- School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Center for Innovation Management Research of Xinjiang, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Center for Innovation Management Research of Xinjiang, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xufeng Su
- School of Economics and Management, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- Center for Innovation Management Research of Xinjiang, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
- School of Economics and Management, Tarim University, Alar, China
- Xufeng Su
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12
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Song G, Zhao X, Lv L, Yuan Q, Ma Y, Bayer LB, Zhang D, Fullana-I-Palmer P. Scenario analysis on optimal farmed-fish-species composition in China: A theoretical methodology to benefit wild-fishery stock, water conservation, economic and protein outputs under the context of climate change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150600. [PMID: 34592296 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fish production from aquaculture and wild captures suffers from the rising risk of climate change. This impacts the livelihoods of fishers and fish farmers by shrinking wild fishery stocks, inland water scarcity, and consequent declines in economic and protein productions. China, feeding the most fish of the world with water-intensive crops, faces challenges of water scarcity but still be premature in developing strategies to adapt to climate change. Here, focusing on methodology development, we quantified the water footprint of fish-farming and economic and protein productions in the baseline year 2014. Then, 29 scenarios of farmed-fish-species composition (FFSC, i.e., tons of each farmed fish species) were developed for the target year 2020. The baseline 2014 shows that fish farming generates an average of 150 billion m3 of water footprint, 4.70 million tons of protein, and 263 billion RMB of economic output (~39 billion USD). Uncertainty optimizations were conducted to generate the optimal FFSC solutions that show a potential to increase fish production by 22%, economic and protein output by 18% and 29%, respectively and simultaneously lower water footprint by 22% to the maximum extent. Nine scenarios that lower wild fishery captures were further examined, with optimal FFSC solution that encourages aquaculture of Grass carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp, and discourages Black carp, Tilapia, Crucian carp, Sea bass, and Wuchang bream. From a methodology aspect, this study pulls back policymakers from only focusing on the short-term economic interest of fish-farming and persuades them to rethink long-term adaptive strategies to climate change from multiple sustainable dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Song
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Xinyue Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Lin Lv
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Qi Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yongchi Ma
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Laura Batlle Bayer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), University Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dan Zhang
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), University Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Sobhani SR, Omidvar N, Abdollahi Z, Al Jawaldeh A. Shifting to a Sustainable Dietary Pattern in Iranian Population: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Front Nutr 2022; 8:789692. [PMID: 35004817 PMCID: PMC8727882 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.789692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The need for a shift in diet toward a more sustainable one has reached an urgency in certain regions, including Iran, due to more rapid climate change and a higher level of vulnerability. This study was undertaken to identify and summarize available data on changes required in the current Iranian diet to make it more sustainable and the extent to which current policies in the country have addressed such a shift. In this study, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science, as well as Iranian scientific search engines, including Scientific Information Database and Magiran, were systematically searched from January 1990 to July 2021. A total of 11 studies and policy analyses were included in this study. Based on the findings, moving Iranian diet toward sustainability will require increase in consumption of dairy, fruits, vegetables, cereals, poultry, and legumes and decrease in consumption of bread, rice, pasta, red meat, eggs, fats, sugars, and sweets. There has been a great deal of effort and investment on policies and strategies to decrease the amount of sugar, salt, and fat (specifically trans-fatty acids) in the Iranian diet, which makes it more sustainable healthwise. Several policies and programs have been implemented to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by reducing access to unhealthy foods, which is in line with health dimension of a sustainable diet. However, there is almost no direct address to ecological aspect of sustainable diet in the food and nutrition policy documents in the ccountry. Development of an enabling environment to a sustainable diet will require policy and actions to improve public awareness, support study to provide evidence and identify possible alternatives, and plan and implement interventions/programs to promote and facilitate healthy and sustainable diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyyed Reza Sobhani
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Nasrin Omidvar
- Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute (WHO Collaborating Center), Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Abdollahi
- Department of Nutrition, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ayoub Al Jawaldeh
- World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt
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14
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Zhang H, Xu Y, Lahr ML. The greenhouse gas footprints of China's food production and consumption (1987-2017). JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 301:113934. [PMID: 34731952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As China urbanized and its economy grew rapidly, its food production and consumption patterns changed dramatically over the past three decades. With this in mind, we evaluate how the nation's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to food production and consumption altered from 1987 to 2017. We further explore key factors that affect GHG emission changes from agricultural production and household diet perspectives. We find that the GHG emissions from China's food production rose 51 percent, while that from food consumption rose 64 percent. The rise in GHG footprint of China's food production was largely caused by the increasing material- and energy-intensive food production system. Agricultural modernization was a main cause of the rise in GHGs, as China was late to the game in improving agricultural productivity. But a more meat-intensive diet accompanied by a general rise in households' use of processed food also helped to drive these transformations. China's growing appetite for meat not only intensified GHG mitigation pressures domestically, but also abroad, as Chinese households began to demand greater variety that was satisfied via imports. Indeed, GHG emissions embodied in imported meats rose over eleven-fold from 2007 to 2017. Through this study, we highlight the importance of future policy-making focused on a more sustainable food system in China to benefit the world's environment, health, and climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Zhang
- The Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, PR China.
| | - Yue Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Michael L Lahr
- Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, 33 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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15
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Arrieta EM, Geri M, Coquet JB, Scavuzzo CM, Zapata ME, González AD. Quality and environmental footprints of diets by socio-economic status in Argentina. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 801:149686. [PMID: 34419910 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Food consumption and production plays a major role on human health and environmental sustainability. In addition, socio-economic status (SES) could be an important determinant on these impacts. Here we investigated the quality and environmental footprints of diets of different SES in Argentina. Dietary data was obtained from a recent national-wide representative survey (21,547 households), and individual intake was estimated by applying the Adult-Male Equivalent (AME) approach. Dietary quality was assessed by comparing the apparent consumption of foods and nutrients with the level of intake associated with the lowest risk of mortality, and applying the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010). The environmental footprints were assessed with a set of six environmental indicators: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, total land occupation, cropland demand, fossil energy use, freshwater consumption and eutrophying emissions. Per capita total expenditure was utilized as an indicator of SES. We found a suboptimal intake of healthy and excess of unhealthy foods and nutrients in all SES, as well as a low AHEI-2010 score (34.7 ± 3.56 over 100). Regarding environmental footprints per AME, we estimated 8.91 ± 2.49 kg CO2-eq/day for GHG emissions, 9.30 ± 2.93 MJ/day for fossil energy use, 54.2 ± 14.8 m2/day for total land occupation, 7.07 ± 1.90 m2/day for cropland demand, 205 ± 65.3 L/day for freshwater consumption and 19.8 ± 6.43 g PO4-eq/day for eutrophying emissions. The Argentinian diet was found to be both unhealthy and unsustainable in all socio-economic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezequiel M Arrieta
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), CONICET y Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Milva Geri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales del Sur (IIESS) CONICET, Departamento de Economía y Departamento de Matemática de la Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca 8000, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julia Becaria Coquet
- Escuela de Nutrición, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Carlos Matias Scavuzzo
- Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales "Mario Gulich" CONAE, UNC, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - María Elisa Zapata
- Center of Studies in Child Nutrition Dr. Alejandro O'Donnell (CESNI), Cerrito 1136, 1 (Post Code 1010), Buenos Aires City, Argentina
| | - Alejandro D González
- Instituto Andino-Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales (IPATEC), CONICET y Universidad Nacional del Comahue, 8400 Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
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16
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Garzillo JMF, Machado PP, Leite FHM, Steele EM, Poli VFS, Louzada MLDC, Levy RB, Monteiro CA. Carbon footprint of the Brazilian diet. Rev Saude Publica 2021; 55:90. [PMID: 34910024 PMCID: PMC8621484 DOI: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2021055003614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the carbon footprint of the Brazilian diet and of sociodemographic strata of this population. METHODS Carbon footprint of the diet was estimated based on data from two 24-hour diet records, obtained in 2008 and 2009, from a probabilistic sample of the Brazilian population aged 10 years and over (n = 34,003) and on environmental impact coefficients of food and culinary preparations consumed in Brazil (gCO2e/kg). Means with 95% confidence intervals of food consumption (kcal/person/day) and the carbon footprint of the diet (gCO2e/person/day and in gCO2e/2,000kcal) were calculated for the population as a whole and for strata according to sex, age, income, education, macro-regions and Federative Unit. Linear regression models were used to identify significant differences (p < 0.05) in the dietary carbon footprint of different sociodemographic strata. RESULTS The average carbon footprint of the Brazilian diet was 4,489gCO2e/person/day. It was higher for males, for the age group from 20 to 49 years and for the North and Midwest regions, and tended to increase with income and education. The pattern of association of footprint with sociodemographic variables did not change substantially with adjustment for differences in the amount of food consumed, except for a reduction in the relative excess of the footprint among males and an increase in the relative excess of the footprint in the Midwest region. CONCLUSION The carbon footprint of the Brazilian diet exceeds by about 30% the footprint of the human diet, which could simultaneously meet the nutritional requirements of a healthy diet and the global goal of containing the increase in the planet's average temperature. The pattern of association of this footprint with sociodemographic variables can help identify priority targets for public actions aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of food consumption in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Euridice Martinez Steele
- Universidade de São Paulo. Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutrição e Saúde. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | - Renata Bertazzi Levy
- Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Carlos Augusto Monteiro
- Universidade de São Paulo. Núcleo de Pesquisas Epidemiológicas em Nutrição e Saúde. São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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17
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Moreno LA, Meyer R, Donovan SM, Goulet O, Haines J, Kok FJ, van't Veer P. Perspective: Striking a Balance between Planetary and Human Health: Is There a Path Forward? Adv Nutr 2021; 13:S2161-8313(22)00067-9. [PMID: 34849542 PMCID: PMC8970843 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmab139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The global adoption of predominantly plant-based sustainable healthy diets will help reduce the risk of obesity- and malnutrition-related non-communicable diseases while protecting the future health of our planet. This review examines the benefits and limitations of different types of plant-based diets in terms of health and nutrition, affordability and accessibility, cultural (ethical and religious) acceptability, and the environment (i.e., the four pillars underlying sustainable healthy diets). Results suggest that, without professional supervision, traditional plant-based diets (vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian diets) can increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies among infants, children/adolescents, adult females, pregnant/lactating women and the elderly. In contrast, flexitarian diets and territorial diversified diets (TDDs, e.g., Mediterranean and New Nordic diets) that include large quantities of plant-sourced foods, low levels of red meat and moderate amounts of poultry, fish, eggs and dairy can meet the energy and nutrition needs of different populations without the need for dietary education or supplementation. Compared to vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian diets, more diverse flexitarian diets and TDDs are associated with reduced volumes of food waste and may be more acceptable and easier to maintain for people who previously followed western diets. Although flexitarian diets and TDDs have a greater impact on the environment than vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian diets, the negative effects are considerably reduced compared to western diets, especially if diets include locally-sourced seasonal foods. Further studies are required to define more precisely optimal sustainable healthy diets for different populations and to ensure that diets are affordable and accessible to people in all countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosan Meyer
- Department of Pediatrics, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sharon M Donovan
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Olivier Goulet
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology-Hepatology-Nutrition, University Hospital Necker-Enfants Malades, University Paris-Centre, Paris, France
| | - Jess Haines
- Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frans J Kok
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter van't Veer
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Rippin HL, Cade JE, Berrang-Ford L, Benton TG, Hancock N, Greenwood DC. Variations in greenhouse gas emissions of individual diets: Associations between the greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient intake in the United Kingdom. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259418. [PMID: 34813623 PMCID: PMC8610494 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food production accounts for 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Less environmentally sustainable diets are also often more processed, energy-dense and nutrient-poor. To date, the environmental impact of diets have mostly been based on a limited number of broad food groups. OBJECTIVES We link GHG emissions to over 3000 foods, assessing associations between individuals' GHG emissions, their nutrient requirements and their demographic characteristics. We also identify additional information required in dietary assessment to generate more accurate environmental impact data for individual-level diets. METHODS GHG emissions of individual foods, including process stages prior to retail, were added to the UK Composition Of Foods Integrated Dataset (COFID) composition tables and linked to automated online dietary assessment for 212 adults over three 24-hour periods. Variations in GHG emissions were explored by dietary pattern, demographic characteristics and World Health Organization Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs). RESULTS GHG emissions estimates were linked to 98% (n = 3233) of food items. Meat explained 32% of diet-related GHG emissions; 15% from drinks; 14% from dairy; and 8% from cakes, biscuits and confectionery. Non-vegetarian diets had GHG emissions 59% (95% CI 18%, 115%) higher than vegetarian. Men had 41% (20%, 64%) higher GHG emissions than women. Individuals meeting RNIs for saturated fats, carbohydrates and sodium had lower GHG emissions compared to those exceeding the RNI. DISCUSSION Policies encouraging sustainable diets should focus on plant-based diets. Substituting tea, coffee and alcohol with more sustainable alternatives, whilst reducing less nutritious sweet snacks, presents further opportunities. Healthier diets had lower GHG emissions, demonstrating consistency between planetary and personal health. Further detail could be gained from incorporating brand, production methods, post-retail emissions, country of origin, and additional environmental impact indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly L. Rippin
- School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Janet E. Cade
- School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Lea Berrang-Ford
- Priestley International Centre for Climate, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Tim G. Benton
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Hancock
- School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Darren C. Greenwood
- School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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19
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Alhothali GT, Almoraie NM, Shatwan IM, Aljefree NM. Sociodemographic Characteristics and Dietary Choices as Determinants of Climate Change Understanding and Concern in Saudi Arabia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010605. [PMID: 34682350 PMCID: PMC8535203 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Climate change poses a global threat to public health. This study investigated the understanding of, and concern over, climate change in Saudi Arabia and examined the associations with sociodemographic characteristics and dietary choices. This cross-sectional study consisted of 280 participants recruited via an online survey. Of the study participants, 45% demonstrated a sufficient understanding of climate change, and 56% were highly concerned about climate change. Male sex, medium-high monthly income, high education, and governmental employees were determinants of sufficient understanding of and great concern over climate change. Participants who exhibited a high understanding of climate change score demonstrated significantly higher consumption of vegetables (3.47 ± 0.98) and vegetable oils (3.26 ± 1.07) than participants with a low understanding score (3.31 ± 0.96 and 3.00 ± 1.01, respectively) (p ≤ 0.01). Additionally, participants with higher concern of climate change scores exhibited lower consumption of red meat (p = 0.0001), poultry (p = 0.003), margarine (p = 0.02), and soy products (p = 0.04). The study revealed a poor understanding of, but great concern over, climate change. The intake of non-climate-friendly food was typically higher than that of climate-friendly food. These findings are critical for developing strategies to enhance awareness of climate change and encourage people to consume climate-friendly food to mitigate climate change and improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Talat Alhothali
- Department of Marketing, College of Business, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 3795, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| | - Noha M. Almoraie
- Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 3270, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.A.); (I.M.S.); (N.M.A.)
| | - Israa M. Shatwan
- Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 3270, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.A.); (I.M.S.); (N.M.A.)
| | - Najlaa M. Aljefree
- Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 3270, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.A.); (I.M.S.); (N.M.A.)
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20
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Yin J, Zhang X, Huang W, Liu L, Zhang Y, Yang D, Hao Y, Chen Y. The potential benefits of dietary shift in China: Synergies among acceptability, health, and environmental sustainability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 779:146497. [PMID: 33752013 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The transition to a healthier diet recommended by national dietary guidelines in China may not achieve sufficient environmental benefits. This study assesses China's potential of transforming into a sustainable diet and the trade-offs among reducing food-related environmental impacts, improving nutritional quality and respecting eating habits. We used multi-objective optimization to build optimized scenarios, with the lowest environmental footprint and greatest acceptability (i.e., with the minimum departure from the currently observed diet) as optimization goals, and adequate macro- and micronutrient intake levels as constraints. In doing so, we assessed the actual benefits and synergies of reducing carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF), and ecological footprint (EF) and improving health and respecting dietary acceptance under the corresponding scenarios. The results show that CF, WF and EF can be reduced by up to 19%, 15% and 30% respectively, while satisfying nutritional constraints and achieving the minimum deviation from the current food combination. The greatest synergistic benefits for CF, WF and EF are achieved when the minimum CF is the optimization goal; the maximum synergistic benefits for the environment, health and acceptability are achieved when the CF is reduced by 10%. Our findings identify the trade-offs and synergies dietary changes considering nutritional benefits, environmental sustainability and acceptability, and reveal the challenges and opportunities for achieving such synergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Xinhuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
| | - Wei Huang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Lingxuan Liu
- Lancaster University, Management School, Bailrigg, LA1 4YX, Lancaster, England, United Kingdom.
| | - Yufang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
| | - Degang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Yun Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China; Chinese Academy of Science, Ctr Ecology & Environment Studies Cent Asia, Urumqi 830011, China.
| | - Yaning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China.
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21
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Kidd B, Mackay S, Vandevijvere S, Swinburn B. Cost and greenhouse gas emissions of current, healthy, flexitarian and vegan diets in Aotearoa (New Zealand). BMJ Nutr Prev Health 2021; 4:275-284. [PMID: 34308136 PMCID: PMC8258060 DOI: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To compare the costs and climate impact (greenhouse gas emissions) associated with current and healthy diets and two healthy and environmentally friendly dietary patterns: flexitarian and vegan. Design Modelling study Setting Aotearoa (New Zealand). Main outcome measures The distribution of the cost and climate impact (kgCO2e/kg of food per fortnight) of 2 weekly current, healthy, vegan and flexitarian household diets was modelled using a list of commonly consumed foods, a set of quantity/serves constraints for each, and constraints for food group and nutrient intakes based on dietary guidelines (Eating and Activity Guidelines for healthy diets and EAT-Lancet reference diet for vegan and flexitarian diets) or nutrition survey data (current diets). Results The iterative creation of 210–237 household dietary intakes for each dietary scenario was achieved using computer software adapted for the purpose (DIETCOST). There were stepwise differences between diet scenarios (p<0.001) with the current diet having the lowest mean cost in New Zealand Dollars (NZ$584 (95% CI NZ$580 to NZ$588)) per fortnight for a family of four) but highest mean climate impact (597 kgCO2e (95% CI 590 to 604 kgCO2e)), followed by the healthy diet (NZ$637 (95% CI NZ$632 to NZ$642), 452 kgCO2e (95% CI 446 to 458 kgCO2e)), the flexitarian diet (NZ$728 (95% CI NZ$723 to NZ$734), 263 kgCO2e (95% CI 261 to 265 kgCO2e)) and the vegan diet, which had the highest mean cost and lowest mean climate impact (NZ$789, (95% CI NZ$784 to NZ$794), 203 kgCO2e (95% CI 201 to 204 kgCO2e)). There was a negative relationship between cost and climate impact across diets and a positive relationship within diets. Conclusions Moving from current diets towards sustainable healthy diets (SHDs) will reduce climate impact but generally at a higher cost to households. The results reflect trade-offs, with the larger constraints placed on diets, the greater cost and factors such as nutritional adequacy, variety, cost and low-emissions foods being considered. Further monitoring and policies are needed to support population transitions that are country specific from current diets to SHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Kidd
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sally Mackay
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stefanie Vandevijvere
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Boyd Swinburn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Sugimoto M, Murakami K, Asakura K, Masayasu S, Sasaki S. Diet-related greenhouse gas emissions and major food contributors among Japanese adults: comparison of different calculation methods. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:973-983. [PMID: 32389142 PMCID: PMC8025089 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980019004750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) database for Japanese foods using three different approaches, compare the results of estimated diet-related GHGE and determine major food contributors among Japanese adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional. Three GHGE databases were developed: (1) a literature-based method including a literature review of life cycle assessment studies of Japanese foods and (2) production- and (3) consumption-based input-output tables (IOT)-applied methods using the Japanese IOT. All databases were linked to the Japanese food composition table and food consumption data. Diet-related GHGE was estimated based on each database and the 4-d dietary record data. Diet-related GHGE were compared in both total and food group level between the databases. SETTING Japan. PARTICIPANTS 392 healthy adults aged 20-69 years. RESULTS The mean diet-related GHGE significantly differed according to the calculation methods: 4145 g CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq)/d by the literature-based method, 4031 g CO2-eq/d by the production-based method and 7392 g CO2-eq/d by the consumption-based IOT-applied methods. It significantly differed in food group level as well. Spearman's correlation coefficients between three methods ranged from 0·82 to 0·86. Irrespective of the methods, the top contributor to GHGE was meat (19·7-28·8 %) followed by fish and seafood (13·8-18·3 %). CONCLUSIONS Although the identified major food contributors to GHGE were comparable between the three methods, the estimated GHGE values significantly differed by calculation methods. This finding suggested that caution must be taken when interpreting the estimated diet-related GHGE values obtained using the different calculation methods of GHGE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Sugimoto
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
| | - Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
| | - Keiko Asakura
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo143-8540, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Sasaki
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo113-0033, Japan
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23
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Batlle-Bayer L, Aldaco R, Bala A, Puig R, Laso J, Margallo M, Vázquez-Rowe I, Antó JM, Fullana-I-Palmer P. Environmental and nutritional impacts of dietary changes in Spain during the COVID-19 lockdown. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:141410. [PMID: 32798877 PMCID: PMC7395635 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The COVID lockdown has affected food purchases and eating habits. In this regard, this short communication assesses the nutritional and environmental impacts of these changes during the COVID lockdown in Spain, by applying Life Cycle Assessment and an energy- and nutrient-corrected functional unit. Three environmental impacts were studied (Global Warming Potential, Blue Water Footprint and Land Use) and a total of seven weekly diet scenarios were designed: two pre-COVID diets for March and April in 2019 (MAR19, APR19), one COVID diet (COVID) and two alternative diets, one based on the National Dietary Guidelines (NDG) and another one on the Planetary Health Diet (PHD). Results show that the COVID diet had larger energy intake and lower nutritional quality, as well as higher environmental impacts (between 30 and 36%) than the pre-COVID eating patterns. Further research is needed to account for food affordability within this assessment, as well as to analyze how eating patterns will evolve after the COVID lockdown. Finally, the definition of short guidelines for sustainable food behaviors for future possible lockdowns is suggested, as well as the introduction of sustainable indicators within NDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Batlle-Bayer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rubén Aldaco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda, De los Castros, s.n, 39005 Santander, Spain.
| | - Alba Bala
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rita Puig
- Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Pla de la Massa, 8, 08700 Igualada, Spain
| | - Jara Laso
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda, De los Castros, s.n, 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - María Margallo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda, De los Castros, s.n, 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - Ian Vázquez-Rowe
- Peruvian LCA Network (PELCAN), Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Av, Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru
| | - Josep Maria Antó
- ISGlobal, Campus Mar, Av Dr, Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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24
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Abejón R, Batlle-Bayer L, Laso J, Bala A, Vazquez-Rowe I, Larrea-Gallegos G, Margallo M, Cristobal J, Puig R, Fullana-i-Palmer P, Aldaco R. Multi-Objective Optimization of Nutritional, Environmental and Economic Aspects of Diets Applied to the Spanish Context. Foods 2020; 9:E1677. [PMID: 33207725 PMCID: PMC7696294 DOI: 10.3390/foods9111677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Current food consumption patterns must be revised in order to improve their sustainability. The nutritional, environmental, and economic consequences of these dietary patterns must be taken into consideration when diet guidelines are proposed. This study applied a systematic optimization methodology to define sustainable dietary patterns complying with nutritional, environmental, and economic issues. The methodology was based on a multi-objective optimization model that considered a distance-to-target approach. Although the three simultaneous objectives (maximal nutritional contribution, minimal greenhouse gas emissions, and minimal costs) could be divergent, the proposed model identified the optimal intake of each food product to achieve the maximal level of nutritional, environmental, and economic diets. This model was applied to six different eating patterns within the Spanish context: one based on current food consumption and five alternative diets. The results revealed that dietary patterns with improved nutritional profiles and reduced environmental impacts could be defined without additional costs just by increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and legumes, while reducing the intake of meat and fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Abejón
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain; (R.A.); (J.L.); (M.M.); (J.C.)
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Av. Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 3363, Estación Central, Santiago 9170019, Chile
| | - Laura Batlle-Bayer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (L.B.-B.); (A.B.); (P.F.-i.-P.)
| | - Jara Laso
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain; (R.A.); (J.L.); (M.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Alba Bala
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (L.B.-B.); (A.B.); (P.F.-i.-P.)
| | - Ian Vazquez-Rowe
- Peruvian LCA Network (PELCAN), Department of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Av. Universitaria 1801, San Miguel, Lima 15088, Peru;
| | - Gustavo Larrea-Gallegos
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4362 Luxembourg, Luxembourg;
| | - María Margallo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain; (R.A.); (J.L.); (M.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Jorge Cristobal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain; (R.A.); (J.L.); (M.M.); (J.C.)
| | - Rita Puig
- Department of Computer Science and Industrial Engineering, Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Pla de la Massa, 8, 08700 Igualada, Spain;
| | - Pere Fullana-i-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Pg. Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; (L.B.-B.); (A.B.); (P.F.-i.-P.)
| | - Rubén Aldaco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain; (R.A.); (J.L.); (M.M.); (J.C.)
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25
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Sugimoto M, Murakami K, Fujiwara A, Asakura K, Masayasu S, Sasaki S. Association between diet-related greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient intake adequacy among Japanese adults. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240803. [PMID: 33095787 PMCID: PMC7584234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A growing number of Western studies have been exploring sustainable and healthy dietary patterns that target to reduce diet-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and to achieve nutritional needs. However, research is limited among Asian populations, where food sources for diet-related GHGE differ from those in Western populations. This study aimed to investigate associations between diet-related GHGE and the prevalence of inadequate nutritional intake. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out among 392 healthy Japanese volunteers aged 20-69 years. Dietary intake was assessed by four-non-consecutive day diet record. Diet-related GHGE was estimated using the Global Link Input-Output model and adjusted for energy intake by residual method. Prevalence of inadequacy was defined as a percentage of participants with nutrient intake outside the Tentative Dietary Goal for Preventing Lifestyle-Related Disease or below the Estimated Average Requirement defined by the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Japanese. The association between diet-related GHGE and the prevalence of inadequacy of the usual intake of each nutrient was examined using logistic regression models. RESULTS Participants with higher diet-related GHGE had overall better adherence to the DRIs. Intakes of all selected nutrients were positively associated with diet-related GHGE, except for carbohydrate, total fat, and saturated fat. With increasing quartile of diet-related GHGE, the prevalence of inadequacy decreased for protein, dietary fiber, potassium, vitamins A, B-6, and C, thiamin, riboflavin, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc, while that for sodium increased. CONCLUSIONS Diets with lower diet-related GHGE did not have better adherence to the DRIs compared to diets with higher diet-related GHGE among Japanese adults. Drastic dietary change or other strategies such as improving the food system would be needed to achieve a sustainable and healthy diet among Japanese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Sugimoto
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aya Fujiwara
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Asakura
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Sasaki
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, Division of Health Sciences and Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Social and Preventive Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail: ,
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26
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Vermeulen SJ, Park T, Khoury CK, Béné C. Changing diets and the transformation of the global food system. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1478:3-17. [PMID: 32713024 PMCID: PMC7689688 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An aspirational global food system is one that delivers across a suite of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including universal access to healthy diets, which can also codeliver on climate and environment SDGs. The literature has downplayed the relative contribution of dietary change to sustainable food systems. In this perspective article, we argue that the potential for positive transformational change in diets should not be underestimated, for two sets of reasons. First, the dynamism of diets over long-term and, especially, recent history shows the potential for rapid and widespread change, including toward more diverse and healthier diets. Second, contemporary behavioral research demonstrates promising tactics to influence consumers' dietary choices. Since the entire food system creates the circumstances of those choices, the most effective strategies to shift diets will involve multiple approaches that deliberately aim not just to influence consumers themselves but also to incentivize all actors in the food systems, taking into account multiple agendas and values. The effectiveness of actions will depend on the political economy at local, national, and global levels. Overall, there are reasons to be hopeful about the potential for accelerated global dietary change, given both historic trends and the growing suite of tools and approaches available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja J. Vermeulen
- CGIAR System OrganizationMontpellierFrance
- Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource EconomyLondonUK
| | | | - Colin K. Khoury
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)PalmiraValle del CaucaColombia
| | - Christophe Béné
- International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)PalmiraValle del CaucaColombia
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27
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Han A, Chai L, Liao X. Demographic Scenarios of Future Environmental Footprints of Healthy Diets in China. Foods 2020; 9:foods9081021. [PMID: 32751477 PMCID: PMC7466210 DOI: 10.3390/foods9081021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary improvement not only benefits human health conditions, but also offers the potential to reduce the human food system’s environmental impact. With the world’s largest population and people’s bourgeoning lifestyle, China’s food system is set to impose increasing pressures on the environment. We evaluated the minimum environmental footprints, including carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF) and ecological footprint (EF), of China’s food systems into 2100. The minimum footprints of healthy eating are informative to policymakers when setting the environmental constraints for food systems. The results demonstrate that the minimum CF, WF and EF all increase in the near future and peak around 2030 to 2035, under different population scenarios. After the peak, population decline and aging result in decreasing trends of all environmental footprints until 2100. Considering age-gender specific nutritional needs, the food demands of teenagers in the 14–17 year group require the largest environmental footprints across the three indicators. Moreover, men’s nutritional needs also lead to larger environmental footprints than women’s across all age groups. By 2100, the minimum CF, WF and EF associated with China’s food systems range from 616 to 899 million tons, 654 to 953 km3 and 6513 to 9500 billion gm2 respectively under different population scenarios. This study builds a bridge between demography and the environmental footprints of diet and demonstrates that the minimum environmental footprints of diet could vary by up to 46% in 2100 under different demographic scenarios. The results suggest to policymakers that setting the environmental constraints of food systems should be integrated with the planning of a future demographic path.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aixi Han
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
| | - Li Chai
- International College Beijing, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China;
- Chinese-Israeli International Center for Research and Training in Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiawei Liao
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Correspondence: (L.C.); (X.L.)
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Mizdrak A, Cobiac LJ, Cleghorn CL, Woodward A, Blakely T. Fuelling walking and cycling: human powered locomotion is associated with non-negligible greenhouse gas emissions. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9196. [PMID: 32513974 PMCID: PMC7280492 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66170-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing motorized transport and increasing active transport (i.e. transport by walking, cycling and other active modes) may reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve health. But, active modes of transport are not zero emitters. We aimed to quantify GHG emissions from food production required to fuel extra physical activity for walking and cycling. We estimate the emissions (in kgCO2e) per kilometre travelled for walking and cycling from energy intake required to compensate for increased energy expenditure, and data on food-related GHG emissions. We assume that persons who shift from passive modes of transport (e.g. driving) have increased energy expenditure that may be compensated with increased food consumption. The GHG emissions associated with food intake required to fuel a kilometre of walking range between 0.05 kgCO2e/km in the least economically developed countries to 0.26 kgCO2e/km in the most economically developed countries. Emissions for cycling are approximately half those of walking. Emissions from food required for walking and cycling are not negligible in economically developed countries which have high dietary-related emissions. There is high uncertainty about the actual emissions associated with walking and cycling, and high variability based on country economic development. Our study highlights the need to consider emissions from other sectors when estimating net-emissions impacts from transport interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Mizdrak
- Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE 3), Department of Public Health, University of Otago (Wellington), 23 Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Linda J Cobiac
- Centre for Population Approaches to Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Christine L Cleghorn
- Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE 3), Department of Public Health, University of Otago (Wellington), 23 Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Alistair Woodward
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Tony Blakely
- Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE 3), Department of Public Health, University of Otago (Wellington), 23 Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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"There's Not Really Much Consideration Given to the Effect of the Climate on NCDs"-Exploration of Knowledge and Attitudes of Health Professionals on a Climate Change-NCD Connection in Barbados. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 17:ijerph17010198. [PMID: 31892174 PMCID: PMC6982231 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite widespread awareness of the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the growing threat of climate change, little research has explored future health outcomes that will occur at the intersection of these challenges. Ten Barbadian health professionals were interviewed to assess their knowledge of health risks of climate change as it relates to NCDs in Barbados as a case study of a small island state at risk. There is widespread concern among health professionals about the current and future prevalence of non-communicable diseases among Barbadians. There is less concern about the future burden of NCDs in the context of a changing climate, largely because of a lack of knowledge among the majority of the health experts interviewed. Those knowledgeable about potential connections noted the difficulty that climate change would pose to the prevention and management of NCDs, given the impacts of climate stressors to food security, the built environment, and physiological and psychosocial health impacts. Lack of awareness among health professionals of the risk climate change poses to NCD prevalence and impact is reflective of the country’s health priorities that fail to recognize the risk of climate change. We recommend efforts to disseminate information about climate change to stakeholders in the health sector to increase awareness.
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Wilson N, Cleghorn CL, Cobiac LJ, Mizdrak A, Nghiem N. Achieving Healthy and Sustainable Diets: A Review of the Results of Recent Mathematical Optimization Studies. Adv Nutr 2019; 10:S389-S403. [PMID: 31728498 PMCID: PMC6855945 DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmz037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate protection and other environmental concerns render it critical that diets and agriculture systems become more sustainable. Mathematical optimization techniques can assist in identifying dietary patterns that both improve nutrition and reduce environmental impacts. Here we review 12 recent studies in which such optimization was used to achieve nutrition and environmental sustainability aims. These studies used data from China, India, and Tunisia, and from 7 high-income countries (France, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States). Most studies aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (10 of 12) and half aimed also to reduce ≥1 other environmental impact, e.g., water use, fossil energy use, land use, marine eutrophication, atmospheric acidification, and nitrogen release. The main findings were that in all 12 studies, the diets optimized for sustainability and nutrition were more plant based with reductions in meat, particularly ruminant meats such as beef and lamb (albeit with 6 of 12 of studies involving increased fish in diets). The amount of dairy products also tended to decrease in most (7 of 12) of the studies with more optimized diets. Other foods that tended to be reduced included: sweet foods (biscuits, cakes, and desserts), savory snacks, white bread, and beverages (alcoholic and soda drinks). These findings were broadly compatible with the findings of 7 out of 8 recent review articles on the sustainability of diets. The literature suggests that healthy and sustainable diets may typically be cost neutral or cost saving, but this is still not clear overall. There remains scope for improvement in such areas as expanding research where there are no competing interests; improving sustainability metrics for food production and consumption; consideration of infectious disease risks from livestock agriculture and meat; and researching optimized diets in settings where major policy changes have occurred (e.g., Mexico's tax on unhealthy food).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Wilson
- BODE Programme, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand,Address correspondence to NW (e-mail: )
| | | | - Linda J Cobiac
- BODE Programme, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Anja Mizdrak
- BODE Programme, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Nhung Nghiem
- BODE Programme, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
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A Scenario-Based Simulation of Land System Changes on Dietary Changes: A Case Study in China. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11195196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The dietary change of Chinese residents is driven by increasing incomes and urbanization, which will bring about non-negligible changes in the food production of the land system. To explore how dietary changes might influence future land systems and the environment, this research hypothesizes two potential dietary change scenarios in the period 2010–2030, based on the current trends and Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (DGCR), and applies the CLUMondo model to simulate the spatiotemporal patterns of land systems and estimates a lifecycle’s environmental impacts on dietary change. As shown in the results, dietary changes would obviously alter the land cover, agricultural intensity, and livestock density of land systems, and the changes in land use intensity are noteworthy. If the current trend of dietary change is unchecked, the intensification and expansion of agriculture and animal husbandry would be widely distributed in North China and Northwest China, where the intensity of cropland was low in the past and the ecosystem was relatively fragile. Moreover, the increasing demands for food lead to sharp increases in the carbon footprint, water footprint, and ecological footprint from food production. In contrast, the balanced diet recommended by DGCR could offer considerable environmental benefits. This diet is conducive to cutting down land use intensity, helping natural systems avoid intensification, and the expansion of agriculture and animal husbandry, which lower footprints from food production and have helped to implement the policy of returning croplands to grassland and forests in China. Therefore, popularizing balanced diets could be a win–win for human health and environmental sustainability.
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Eshel G, Stainier P, Shepon A, Swaminathan A. Environmentally Optimal, Nutritionally Sound, Protein and Energy Conserving Plant Based Alternatives to U.S. Meat. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10345. [PMID: 31395893 PMCID: PMC6687707 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46590-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Because meat is more resource intensive than vegetal protein sources, replacing it with efficient plant alternatives is potentially desirable, provided these alternatives prove nutritionally sound. We show that protein conserving plant alternatives to meat that rigorously satisfy key nutritional constraints while minimizing cropland, nitrogen fertilizer (Nr) and water use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions exist, and could improve public health. We develop a new methodology for identifying nutritional constraints whose satisfaction by plant eaters is challenging, disproportionately shaping the optimal diets, singling out energy, mass, monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamins B3,6,12 and D, choline, zinc, and selenium. By replacing meat with the devised plant alternatives—dominated by tofu, soybeans, peanuts, and lentils—Americans can collectively eliminate pastureland use while saving 35–50% of their diet related needs for cropland, Nr, and GHG emission, but increase their diet related irrigation needs by 15%. While widely replacing meat with plants is logistically and culturally challenging, few competing options offer comparable multidimensional resource use reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gidon Eshel
- Physics Department, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, 12504-5000, USA.
| | | | - Alon Shepon
- Department of Nutrition, T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA
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Food access inequalities in Chinese urban neighborhoods: a case study of the Dalian development zone. Food Secur 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12571-019-00963-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Chaudhary A, Krishna V. Country-Specific Sustainable Diets Using Optimization Algorithm. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:7694-7703. [PMID: 31145597 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Current diets of most nations either do not meet the nutrition recommendations or transgress environmental planetary boundaries or both. Transitioning toward sustainable diets that are nutritionally adequate and low in environmental impact is key in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. However, designing region-specific sustainable diets that are culturally acceptable is a formidable challenge. Recent studies have suggested that optimization algorithms offer a potential solution to the above challenge, but the evidence is mostly based on case studies from high-income nations using widely varying constraints and algorithms. Here, we employ nonlinear optimization modeling with a consistent study design to identify diets for 152 countries that meet four cultural acceptability constraints, five food-related per capita environmental planetary boundaries (carbon emissions, water, land, nitrogen, and phosphorus use), and the daily recommended levels for 29 nutrients. The results show that a considerable departure from current dietary behavior is required for all countries. The required changes in intake amounts of 221 food items are highly country-specific but in general point toward a need to reduce the intake of meat, dairy, rice, and sugar and an increase in fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, and other grains. The constraints for fiber, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and saturated fats and the planetary boundaries for carbon emissions and nitrogen application were the most difficult to meet, suggesting the need to pay special attention to them. The analysis demonstrates that nonlinear optimization is a powerful tool to design diets achieving multiple objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Chaudhary
- Department of Civil Engineering , Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur , 208016 Kanpur , India
| | - Vaibhav Krishna
- Department of Management, Technology, and Economics , ETH Zurich , 8092 Zurich , Switzerland
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Batlle-Bayer L, Bala A, Lemaire E, Albertí J, García-Herrero I, Aldaco R, Fullana-I-Palmer P. An energy- and nutrient-corrected functional unit to compare LCAs of diets. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 671:175-179. [PMID: 30928747 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Dietary choices, a main driver of food production, play a significant role within the climate change arena. Consequently, there is a growing trend on publishing research assessing the environmental impacts of diets and dietary shifts, mainly following the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. However, several methodological issues still bring a challenge, especially in the definition of the function and the quantification of the functional unit (FU). The FU is the reference unit of an LCA study, and it is the basis for allowing comparison among different systems. This short communication defines the function of diets as the supply of the daily required amount of calories and nutrients, and it proposes a novel FU that accounts for the energy intake and the nutritional quality of the diet. In order to compare the performance of the proposed FU to the most commonly ones used for diet LCAs (mass-based and isocaloric), dietary scenarios within the Spanish context are assessed. On the one hand, using a mass-based FU, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are underestimated, since the nutrition properties of food are not considered, and, on the other hand, the isocaloric substitution does not allow comparison among diets with different levels of energy intake. In contrast, the proposed caloric- and nutrient-corrected FU allows to compare diets that differ in energy and nutritional quality in a fairer way. Finally, it is recommended to use this FU for future diet LCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Batlle-Bayer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alba Bala
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elodie Lemaire
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Albertí
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel García-Herrero
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - Rubén Aldaco
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Avda. De los Castros, s.n., 39005 Santander, Spain
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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He P, Baiocchi G, Feng K, Hubacek K, Yu Y. Environmental impacts of dietary quality improvement in China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 240:518-526. [PMID: 30999146 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Dietary-related risks rank top among all the health risks in many countries. The 2nd United Nations Sustainable Development Goal aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Yet whether improving nutritional quality also benefits the environment is still under-explored, particularly for developing countries. China is an interesting and important case because of its rapidly changing dietary patterns distinct from the western countries studied in the literature, sub-national level heterogeneity, socio-economic characteristics and lifestyles, as well as its considerable population. This paper evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption, and land appropriation resulting from shifting the Chinese population to healthy diets. We quantify the environmental impacts of individual diets using the latest available data of China Health and Nutrition Survey (2011), and compare them with the environmental impacts of suggested healthy dietary patterns in accordance with the 2016 Chinese Dietary Guidelines. If all Chinese would follow healthy diets rather than their current diets revealed in the survey, GHG emissions, water consumption, and land occupation would increase by 7.5% (63.9 Mt CO2e annually), 53.5% (510 billion m3), and 54.2% (1256 billion m2), respectively. Urban and high-income groups have higher diet-related environmental impacts but could achieve less additional environmental impacts when moving to healthier diets. These findings indicate an expense of increased GHG emissions, and consumption of water and land resources in improving health. They also highlight the need to focus on the effects of improved economic conditions and urbanization in reconciling environmental impacts and human nutritional adequacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan He
- Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Giovanni Baiocchi
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Kuishuang Feng
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Klaus Hubacek
- Center for Energy and Environmental Sciences (IVEM), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, 9747 AG, the Netherlands; International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Schlossplatz 1 - A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Yang Yu
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
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Samet JM, Woodward A. On Being an Epidemiologist. Am J Epidemiol 2019; 188:818-824. [PMID: 30877296 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This commentary addresses being an epidemiologist at a time when the field of epidemiology again faces a paradigm shift as the tools for research on human health draw increasingly on emerging technologies-various omics and new methods for collecting individual data at high intensity-and on new methods for carrying out research through administrative and health care data bases linked to biobanks. At the same time, epidemiologists in public health practice continue to face the usual array of challenges, but with the threat of global issues as well. The profession of epidemiologist is not monolithic; it embraces a broad range of activities and professional venues, reflecting the many contexts where epidemiologists do their work, the nature of the problems addressed, and the span and application of their findings. Obtaining data from people and populations comes with serious ethical obligations related to privacy and confidentiality of individuals and respect for the populations studied. Beyond generating and analyzing data, epidemiologists engage in guiding action through the evidence they have created with the ultimate goal of advancing health. This commentary addresses "mega-trends" that will affect the profession in the decades to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Samet
- Dean’s Office, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Alistair Woodward
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Aleksandrowicz L, Green R, Joy EJM, Harris F, Hillier J, Vetter SH, Smith P, Kulkarni B, Dangour AD, Haines A. Environmental impacts of dietary shifts in India: A modelling study using nationally-representative data. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 126:207-215. [PMID: 30802638 PMCID: PMC6437131 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Food production is a major driver of environmental change, and unhealthy diets are the leading cause of global disease burden. In high-income countries (HICs), modelling studies suggest that adoption of healthy diets could improve population health and reduce environmental footprints associated with food production. We assessed whether such benefits from dietary change could occur in India, where under-nutrition and overweight and obesity are simultaneously prevalent. We calculated the potential changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, blue and green water footprints (WFs), and land use (LU), that would result from shifting current national food consumption patterns in India to healthy diets (meeting dietary guidelines) and to "affluent diets" (those consumed by the wealthiest quartile of households, which may represent future purchasing power and nutritional trajectories). Dietary data were derived from the 2011-12 nationally-representative household expenditure survey, and we assessed dietary scenarios nationally and across six Indian sub-regions, by rural or urban location, and for those consuming above or below recommended dietary energy intakes. We modelled the changes in consumption of 34 food groups necessary to meet Indian dietary guidelines, as well as an affluent diet representative of those in the highest wealth quartile. These changes were combined with food-specific data on GHG emissions, calculated using the Cool Farm Tool, and WF and LU adapted from the Water Footprint Network and Food and Agriculture Organization, respectively. Shifting to healthy guidelines nationally required a minor increase in dietary energy (3%), with larger increases in fruit (18%) and vegetable (72%) intake, though baseline proportion of dietary energy from fat and protein was adequate and did not change significantly. Meeting healthy guidelines slightly increased environmental footprints by about 3-5% across GHG emissions, blue and green WFs, and LU. However, these national averages masked substantial variation within sub-populations. For example, shifting to healthy diets among those with dietary energy intake below recommended guidelines would result in increases of 28% in GHG emissions, 18 and 34% in blue and green WFs, respectively, and 41% in LU. Decreased environmental impacts were seen among those who currently consume above recommended dietary energy (-6 to -16% across footprints). Adoption of affluent diets by the whole population would result in increases of 19-36% across the environmental indicators. Specific food groups contributing to these shifts varied by scenario. Environmental impacts also varied markedly between six major Indian sub-regions. In India, where undernutrition is prevalent, widespread adoption of healthy diets may lead to small increases in the environmental footprints of the food system relative to the status quo, although much larger increases would occur if there was widespread adoption of diets currently consumed by the wealthiest quartile of the population. To achieve lower diet-related disease burdens and reduced environmental footprints of the food system, greater efficiency of food production and reductions in food waste are likely to be required alongside promotion of healthy diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Aleksandrowicz
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health, UK.
| | - R Green
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health, UK
| | - E J M Joy
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health, UK
| | - F Harris
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - J Hillier
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - S H Vetter
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - P Smith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - B Kulkarni
- Clinical Division, National Institute of Nutrition, India
| | - A D Dangour
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Leverhulme Centre for Integrative Research on Agriculture & Health, UK
| | - A Haines
- Dept. of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Dept. of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
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Chen C, Chaudhary A, Mathys A. Dietary Change Scenarios and Implications for Environmental, Nutrition, Human Health and Economic Dimensions of Food Sustainability. Nutrients 2019; 11:E856. [PMID: 30995719 PMCID: PMC6520741 DOI: 10.3390/nu11040856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Demand side interventions, such as dietary change, can significantly contribute towards the achievement of 2030 national sustainable development goals. However, most previous studies analysing the consequences of dietary change focus on a single dimension of sustainability (e.g., environment) using a limited number of indicators and dietary scenarios. A multi-dimension and multi-indicator analysis can identify the potential trade-offs. Here, starting from the current food consumption data (year 2011), we first designed nine alternative dietary scenarios (healthy Swiss diet, healthy global diet, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, flexitarian, protein-oriented and meat-oriented diets and a food greenhouse gas tax diet). Next we calculated three nutritional quality (nutrient balance score, disqualifying nutrient score, percent population with adequate nutrition), five environmental (greenhouse gas, water, land, nitrogen and phosphorus use), one economic (daily food expenditure) and one human health indicator (DALYs) for current and alternative diets. We found that transition towards a healthy diet following the guidelines of Swiss society of nutrition is the most sustainable option and is projected to result in 36% lesser environmental footprint, 33% lesser expenditure and 2.67% lower adverse health outcome (DALYs) compared with the current diet. On the other extreme, transition towards a meat or protein oriented diet can lead to large increases in diet related adverse health outcomes, environmental footprint, daily food expenditure and a reduction in intakes of essential nutrients (for Vitamin C, Fibre, Potassium and Calcium). We found that shifting to the vegetarian and vegan diet scenarios might lead to a reduction in intakes of certain micronutrients currently supplied primarily by animal-sourced foods (Vitamin B12, Choline and Calcium). Results show that achieving a sustainable diet would entail a high reduction in the intake of meat and vegetable oils and a moderate reduction in cereals, roots and fish products and at the same time increased intake of legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. We identify several current data and research gaps that need to be filled in order to get more accurate results. Overall, our analysis underscores the need to consider multiple indicators while assessing the dietary sustainability and provides a template to conduct such studies in other countries and settings. Future efforts should focus on assessing the potential of different interventions and policies that can help transition the population from current to sustainable dietary patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canxi Chen
- Laboratory of Sustainable Food Processing, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Abhishek Chaudhary
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India.
| | - Alexander Mathys
- Laboratory of Sustainable Food Processing, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Assessing the Carbon Emission Driven by the Consumption of Carbohydrate-Rich Foods: The Case of China. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11071875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Carbohydrate-rich (CR) foods are essential parts of the Chinese diet. However, CR foods are often given less attention than animal-based foods. The objectives of this study were to analyze the carbon emissions caused by CR foods and to generate sustainable diets with low climate impact and adequate nutrients. Methods: Twelve common CR food consumption records from 4857 individuals were analyzed using K-means clustering algorithms. Furthermore, linear programming was used to generate optimized diets. Results: Total carbon emissions by CR foods was 683.38g CO2eq per day per capita, accounting for an annual total of 341.9Mt CO2eq. All individuals were ultimately divided into eight clusters, and none of the popular clusters were low carbon or nutrient sufficient. Optimized diets could reduce about 40% of carbon emissions compared to the average current diet. However, significant structural differences exist between the current diet and optimized diets. Conclusions: To reduce carbon emissions from the food chain, CR foods should be a research focus. Current Chinese diets need a big change to achieve positive environmental and health goals. The reduction of rice and wheat-based foods and an increase of bean foods were the focus of structural dietary change in CR food consumption.
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Song G, Han Y, Li J, Lv D. The potential water-food-health nexus in urban China: A comparative study on dietary changes at home and away from home. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:1173-1182. [PMID: 30677884 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In China, urbanization strengthens the water-food-health nexus by driving dietary changes both at home and away from home (AFH). However, few studies have compared the effects of dining location on water footprint generation and/or linked such habits to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, myocardial infarction, stroke and cancer. Here, household survey data were used to develop a multiple-component urbanization sequence, on which the diet-related water footprint was quantified and the mechanisms under the water-food-health nexus were explored. Significant dietary changes due to urbanization have occurred at home (instead of AHF), and increases or decreases in various food groups are stratified across dining locations. Log mean Divisia index decomposition shows that the diet-structure effect outweighing the intake effect dominates the water footprint changes during China's urbanization. Animal products contribute 92(94)% of the diet-structure effect on net water footprint growth at home(AFH); in contrast, vegetal foods dominate the intake effect, contributing 67(49)%. The at-home water footprint ratio of animal products to vegetal foods is highly related to the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and asthma, and reaching statistical significance. Two urbanization components, namely housing situation and community diversity, serve as the key drivers of water-food-health nexus enhancement in urbanized China. Due to the complexity of water-food-health links, nexus thinking is needed to benefit human health and diet-related water consumption; besides, it may be reasonable to expand current dimension of food-energy-water nexus topic to include health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Song
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Yunman Han
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiaojiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Daqi Lv
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; State Joint Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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42
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Li J, Song G, Semakula HM, Zhang S. Climatic burden of eating at home against away-from-home: A novel Bayesian Belief Network model for the mechanism of eating-out in urban China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:224-232. [PMID: 30196223 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dietary patterns of eating away-from-home (AFH) considerably differ from those of eating at home in urban China, thus generating varied carbon footprints. However, few studies have investigated the effect of eating places on diet-related climatic burden, and few have modelled the mechanism under the condition of eating-out because the decision of consumers on whether to eat AFH or at home is determined by multiple non-linear socioeconomic factors. Here, we compared the carbon footprints of eating at home and AFH using household survey data from 12 Chinese provinces, and developed a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model to identify key factors of eating AFH. Our findings show that eating AFH leads to higher climatic burdens though respondents consume less food on average than when eating at home. However, in urban areas, the carbon footprint generated increases more rapidly from eating at-home than when eating AFH. The BBN model was found to have strong capability to predict the possibility of eating out with an accuracy of 89%. Although diet patterns and embedded carbon footprint vary considerably across provinces from northeastern to southwestern China, sufficient evidence could not be found to support the influence of geographic factors on the decision of respondents to eat AFH at large scale. Instead, individual occupation and income were found to be the two key contributors. Thus, merely estimating the carbon footprint of food consumption is currently not sufficient, but social and economic elements need to be quantitatively considered to differentiate the eating-place effect on diet-related climatic burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Guobao Song
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Henry Musoke Semakula
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China; College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala 256, Uganda
| | - Shushen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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Ma L, Bai Z, Ma W, Guo M, Jiang R, Liu J, Oenema O, Velthof GL, Whitmore AP, Crawford J, Dobermann A, Schwoob M, Zhang F. Exploring Future Food Provision Scenarios for China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:1385-1393. [PMID: 30609901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Developing sustainable food systems is essential, especially for emerging economies, where food systems are changing rapidly and affect the environment and natural resources. We explored possible future pathways for a sustainable food system in China, using multiple environmental indicators linked to eight of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Forecasts for 2030 in a business as usual scenario (BAU) indicate increases in animal food consumption as well as increased shortages of the land available and the water needed to produce the required food in China. Associated greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen and phosphorus losses could become 10-42% of global emissions in 2010. We developed three main pathways besides BAU [produce more and better food (PMB), consume and waste less food (CWL), and import more food (IMF)] and analyzed their impacts and contributions to achieving one or more of the eight SDGs. Under these scenarios, the demand for land and water and the emissions of GHG and nutrients may decrease by 7-55% compared to BAU, depending on the pathway followed. A combination of PMB and CWL was most effective, while IMF externalizes impacts to countries exporting to China. Modestly increasing feed or food imports in a selective manner could ease the pressure on natural resources. Our modeling framework allows us to analyze the effects of changes in food production-consumption systems in an integrated manner, and the results can be linked to the eight SDGs. Despite formidable technological, social, educational, and structural barriers that need to be overcome, our study indicates that the ambitious targets of China's new agricultural and environmental strategy appear to be achievable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research , Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shijiazhuang 050021 , China
| | - Zhaohai Bai
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Center for Agricultural Resources Research , Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shijiazhuang 050021 , China
| | - Wenqi Ma
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences , Hebei Agricultural University , Baoding 071001 , China
| | - Mengchu Guo
- Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security , China Agricultural University , Beijing 100193 , China
| | - Rongfeng Jiang
- Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security , China Agricultural University , Beijing 100193 , China
| | - Junguo Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering , South University of Science and Technology of China , Shenzhen 518055 , China
| | - Oene Oenema
- Wageningen, Environmental Research P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen , The Netherlands
| | - Gerard L Velthof
- Wageningen, Environmental Research P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen , The Netherlands
| | | | - John Crawford
- Rothamsted Research , Harpenden , Herts AL5 2JQ , U.K
| | | | - Marie Schwoob
- Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) , 41, rue du Four 75006 Paris , France
| | - Fusuo Zhang
- Center for Resources, Environment and Food Security , China Agricultural University , Beijing 100193 , China
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Song G, Gao X, Fullana-I-Palmer P, Lv D, Zhu Z, Wang Y, Bayer LB. Shift from feeding to sustainably nourishing urban China: A crossing-disciplinary methodology for global environment-food-health nexus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:716-724. [PMID: 30092528 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dietary change is a win-win opportunity to address the nexus of health and the environment. To prevent city dwellers from developing non-communicable diseases, in 2013, China updated the 2000 version of nutrition-based dietary reference intake (DRI) guidelines. However, whether the DRI guidelines have a positive effect on the environment is not well understood. Here, we explored the systematic effects of urbanization on China's health and environmental nexus based on survey data. Then, we optimized the diets of 18 age-gender groups to reduce carbon emissions, water consumption, and land use while meeting the healthy nutrition goals of both DRI guidelines. The results showed that the optimal diets based on the DRI 2013 outperformed these on DRI 2000 in improving China's environmental sustainability, although these diets did not always perform better at an individual scale. Our findings suggest that dietary changes can reduce carbon, water, and ecological footprints by 24%, 15%, and 22% in 2050, respectively; however, the differences in age-specific and gender-specific health goals cannot be neglected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guobao Song
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Xiaobing Gao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), University Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daqi Lv
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zaichun Zhu
- Sino-French Institute for Earth System Science, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- North Carolina State University, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, Campus Box 7908, Raleigh, NC 27 695-7908, United States
| | - Laura Batlle Bayer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), University Pompeu Fabra, Passeig Pujades 1, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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Navarro A, Puig R, Martí E, Bala A, Fullana-I-Palmer P. Tackling the Relevance of Packaging in Life Cycle Assessment of Virgin Olive Oil and the Environmental Consequences of Regulation. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 62:277-294. [PMID: 29651686 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-018-1021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Production and consumption of olive oil is very important in Europe, being this product a basic element in the Mediterranean diet since long ago. The project objective is two-fold: a study of the contribution of virgin olive oils (VOOs) usual packaging to the whole life cycle of the product and a study of the environmental consequences of the Spanish Government regulation on VOO packaging. A life cycle assessment (LCA) according to ISO 14044 has been performed using the CML methodology for the impact assessment. The results show that the packaging influence varies from 2 to 300%, depending on the impact category and type of packaging (glass, tin or polyethylene terephtalate). Glass, which is related to higher quality perception by consumers, was found to be the most influencing material (due to its weight); however, this impact may be fairly reduced by applying ecodesign strategies (such as weight reduction and recycled-glass percentage increase). A new Spanish regulation on the mandatory use of non-refillable oilers in HORECA establishments (hotels, restaurants and caterings) aims to provide more quality assurance and better information to consumers; however, it was also found to mean a 74% increase in greenhouse gases emissions. This regulation was deeply discussed at European level and its application was withdraw due to consumers rejection, except for Spain. The findings of the present case study show that LCA and ecodesign should be important tools to be promoted and applied in policy making to reduce non-desirable consequences of regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Navarro
- GIR, Escola d'Enginyeria d'Igualada (EEI), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC, Barcelona tech), Pla de la Massa, 8, Igualada, 08700, Spain
| | - Rita Puig
- GIR, Escola d'Enginyeria d'Igualada (EEI), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC, Barcelona tech), Pla de la Massa, 8, Igualada, 08700, Spain.
| | - Elena Martí
- GIR, Escola d'Enginyeria d'Igualada (EEI), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC, Barcelona tech), Pla de la Massa, 8, Igualada, 08700, Spain
| | - Alba Bala
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), Pg. Pujades 1, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
| | - Pere Fullana-I-Palmer
- UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), Pg. Pujades 1, Barcelona, 08003, Spain
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Ecological Footprint Analysis Based on Changing Food Consumption in a Poorly Developed Area of China. SUSTAINABILITY 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/su9081323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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