Changing Global Diets Is Vital to Reducing Climate Change, Researchers Say

A new study, published Sunday in Nature Climate Change, suggests that -- if current trends continue -- food production alone will reach, if not exceed, the global targets for total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2050.

The study's authors say we should all think carefully about the food we choose and its environmental impact.  A shift to healthier diets across the world is just one of a number of actions that need to be taken to avoid dangerous climate change and ensure there is enough food for all.

As populations rise and global tastes shift towards meat-heavy Western diets, increasing agricultural yields will not meet projected food demands of what is expected to be 9.6 billion people -- making it necessary to bring more land into cultivation.

This will come at a high price, warn the authors, as the deforestation will increase carbon emissions as well as biodiversity loss, and increased livestock production will raise methane levels.  They argue that current food demand trends must change through reducing waste and encouraging balanced diets.

If we maintain 'business as usual', say the authors, then by 2050 cropland will have expanded by 42% and fertiliser use increased sharply by 45% over 2009 levels.  A further tenth of the world's pristine tropical forests would disappear over the next 35 years.

The study shows that increased deforestation, fertilizer use and livestock methane emissions are likely to cause GHG from food production to increase by almost 80%.  This will put emissions from food production alone roughly equal to the target greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 for the entire global economy.

Changing Global Diets Is Vital to Reducing Climate Change, Researchers Say