A Diet for a Healthy Planet: The EAT–Lancet Commission’s Recommendations
A collaborative effort between the non-governmental institution EAT and the journal The Lancet has resulted in a panel dedicated to forging strategies for both human health and planetary wellbeing through dietary changes. The commission’s work highlights the critical link between food systems, environmental sustainability, and public health.
According to Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and co-chair of the EAT-Lancet Commission, transforming food systems is “a prerequisite for us to have the chance to return to a safe climate system and a healthy planet.” He emphasizes that shifting our eating habits has the potential to save lives, considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate biodiversity loss, and promote greater social equity.
The commission’s report suggests adopting a “Planetary Health diet” could prevent approximately 15 million premature deaths annually linked to diet-related illnesses. This diet largely aligns with existing nutritional guidelines, prioritizing a high intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes. It also includes moderate consumption of eggs (three to four per week), fish, and poultry, while advocating for minimal intake of meat, notably from ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.
The focus on reducing ruminant meat consumption stems from both health and environmental concerns. beyond potential long-term cancer risks, ruminants are a notable source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The report states that 53% of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture originate from thes animals. A global shift towards healthier diets could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector by 15%.
Currently, typical diets are characterized by a deficiency in fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, coupled with excessive consumption of meat, dairy, fats, sugar, and highly processed foods. However, the commission stresses that the Planetary Health diet is not intended as a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution. It is designed to be flexible, accommodating diverse cultures, traditions, eating habits, and individual preferences.
Implementing this dietary shift necessitates significant changes in food production. Production of ruminant meat would need to decrease by roughly a third, while the output of fruits, vegetables, and nuts would require an almost two-thirds increase compared to 2020 levels.
Alongside production adjustments, the report advocates for reducing food loss and waste throughout the supply chain and promoting lasting agricultural practices. These include soil cultivation methods that minimize environmental disruption, such as reduced tillage.
The report, building upon previous analysis from 2019, concludes that a climate-neutral food system is achievable with significant investment and concerted effort. Currently, food production is the largest driver of exceeding planetary boundaries, including climate change, alterations in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, and ocean acidification.
Rockström, lead author of the Lancet publication, asserts the report “provides the clearest guidance yet on how to feed a growing global population without exceeding the Earth’s safe operating space.” The commission also emphasizes the importance of social justice within the food system, calling for fair wages, safe working conditions, and increased participation of marginalized groups – including small farmers, indigenous peoples, and women – in decision-making processes.
