Hungry for change: flawed food systems exposed by COVID-19 and climate crises



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Making food production more sustainable will require focusing on how it is grown, what is consumed, and ways to reduce loss and waste, he said.

CHANGE OPPORTUNITY

Pandemic-induced lockdowns have fueled a shift in attitude in rich countries toward food waste and meat consumption, both of which fuel greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, there is growing recognition among experts that a limited focus on crop productivity has come at the expense of the environment, equity and nutrition, said James Lomax, a food systems expert at the United Nations Program. For the enviroment.

Many in the food industry have also begun to understand this, even before COVID-19 disrupted supply chains, hurt profits and highlighted links between agriculture, animal products and zoonotic diseases, he said.

These changes, along with high-profile summits scheduled for next year on the interrelated themes of food, health, nature and climate, offer an opportunity to radically change the way food is produced and consumed, said the experts.

“We have the opportunity to get it right,” as thought converges around the meetings, said Elouafi of FAO.

UN envoy Kalibata hopes the food systems summit will deliver ambitious goals and clarity on what countries, communities and businesses need to do differently over the next decade, as well as more funding to help achieve those. objectives.

Solutions already exist to make food systems sustainable and environmentally friendly, such as seaweed-based livestock feeds to reduce methane emissions and plant-based diets, said Jessica Fanzo, professor of politics and Global Food Ethics at Johns Hopkins University.

But political will is needed to bring them to the forefront, he added. As with climate change, expect a youth movement around food to emerge to advocate for more ambitious change.

Most people participate in the world’s food systems two to three times a day when they eat, he noted.

“It should be something that society values ​​incredibly, (but) often it is not,” he added. (Report from Thin Lei Win //news.trust.org)

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