FOOD

What we eat affects our health and the health of the planet. We need to transition to more sustainable food and farming systems that help both people and planet thrive.

The globalized food system gives us access, via industrialized agriculture and supermarkets, to plentiful, cheap food, but at a significant cost to the environment: greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel usage in production, transportation and packaging; air, water and soil pollution from pesticides and fertilizers.  The resulting soil degradation and loss of insect pollinators means that our current food system is unsustainable – sooner or later it will collapse.

We have opportunities to make a difference through our daily food choices.  

Eat locally produced, seasonal food

Locally-produced food is generally fresher, tastier and more nutritious.  It reduces the need for transportation, meaning less carbon emissions.   Eating locally produced food helps to support the local economy. Food bought and eaten during its natural season of growth is likely to be produced with fewer human inputs such as heat, light and plastic sheeting.  It may also be cheaper, due to seasonal abundance. Why not try growing some of your own food at home or as part of a local community scheme.

Eat less meat and dairy products

Livestock is responsible for around 18% of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming – more than the emissions from all cars and planes. It takes up to 12kg of animal feed and 15,500 litres of water to produce 1kg of intensively reared beef.Eating more fruit and vegetables but less meat is likely to be both healthier for you and more sustainable for the planet.

Shop differently

We can use our power as consumers to drive change.  Using local independent food providers builds community, keeps money circulating in the local economy and helps create a more sustainable food system. Food bought direct from producers, or from farmers markets needs less packaging.

Some crops, such as tea, coffee, and chocolate, require climate conditions different to those in the UK.   Produce grown abroad can have lower carbon emissions than if they were to be grown locally under artificial heat and light. Ethical trading organisations, such as Fairtrade, help to address global inequalities by ensuring that farmers get a reasonable price for their produce.  This allows them to improve their lives and their communities.  Alleviating poverty is often positively associated with reducing environmental damage.