Elements Of Sustainable Nutrition

Introduction

There has been an increased awareness of the importance of maintaining sustainable diets and food systems.¹ Moreover, it is becoming more apparent that the elements of sustainable nutrition also include economic and socio-cultural factors along with environment and nutrition.¹ This article will discuss in further detail the definition of sustainable nutrition, how it can be achieved, and some examples of what a sustainable diet entails.

What does ‘sustainable nutrition’ mean?

Sustainable nutrition is also known as sustainable diets in some literature. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations defines sustainable nutrition or sustainable diets as ‘diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and a healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy while optimising natural and human resources.¹  

In other words, sustainable nutrition involves food systems in which one can acquire essential nutrients and sufficient energy to positively impact mental and physical well-being, without hindering future generations from having the same experience.² It is important to note that the definition of sustainable nutrition may vary between countries. But all definitions consider every aspect of the food system, also known as the food supply chain. 

The different stages of the food system include:^2,3,4

• Primary production (or in other words input and agricultural production)
• Food processing
• Packaging and distribution
• Preparation of meals and consumption
• Waste management

How can sustainable nutrition be achieved?

As mentioned above, sustainable nutrition not only benefits our health and planet, but it will also positively impact the global economy, societies, and cultures. The importance of these factors will be discussed in further detail below.

Elements of sustainable nutrition

Health/ Nutrition

Many health-related organisations have stressed that it is vital that all governments and businesses, especially in the food industry, produce food products that provide the essential nutrients to contribute to sustainable diets and prevent the risk of obesity, malnutrition, and diseases. This will mean:⁵

• Having a mostly plant-based diet
• Consumption of fish from sustainable stock only
• Reducing the consumption of red and processed meat:
  • This is because meat and meat products have the greatest impact on the environment followed by dairy products.
• Reducing the consumption of highly processed foods
• Reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
• Not exceeding the recommended daily energy intake

Environment impact

According to the Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP), changing the way we make and consume products and foods can help combat 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions.³ Below are some strategies on how maintaining a sustainable diet can be beneficial for the environment:⁵  

• Purchasing seasonal and local foods to reduce food transport
• Reduction of food loss, food waste, and packaging
• Efficient energy consumption as well as the use of renewable energy
• Reduction of water consumption by pre-treatment or complete treatment of wastewater used in primary production using cost-effective technologies.
• Food processing waste conversion:
  • High-value by-products to reduce waste of by-products.
  • If raw materials are biologically treated, they can be reused for food production or as a main ingredient for animal feed.
  • Energy products that reduce energy consumption and waste disposal costs.

Generally, there is a lot of focus on both the health and environmental impact of sustainable nutrition. However, it is just as important to understand how the global economy and social and cultural factors play a role in the process of implementing more sustainable diets.

Global economy

To achieve sustainable diets worldwide, it is essential to ensure that food is accessible and affordable.⁶ In addition, it is important to consider the impact sustainable nutrition will have on human capital, especially in terms of specific stages within the food systems such as primary production.⁷ Human capital is beneficial as it defines the value an individual can add to a community or country, which leads to several economic benefits.⁷

More and more countries are on board in developing a more sustainable plan within their food policies and providing educational programmes for consumers to be more enlightened on how to achieve sustainable nutrition. For instance, the United Nations developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 to address global issues and improve the prosperity of the current worldwide population and future generations.⁸ 

Goal 12 is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns are in place, which is relevant in maintaining worldwide sustainable nutrition.⁹ The United Nations stated that if we have a population of 9.8 billion people by 2050, it will require almost three planets to provide the natural resources necessary for sustaining current lifestyles. This is because people are living for longer, but our planet’s resources are in decline when considering current food consumption and production.⁵ 

Furthermore, there is an imbalance between those suffering from chronic hunger in poorer countries and nutrition-related chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular disease in wealthier countries.^5,9 Thus there is a great need for worldwide organisations, from governments to local communities, to address the issue of maintaining sustainable diets for current and future generations.⁵ This is linked to goal 2 of the SDGs, zero hunger.¹⁰

On a more local scale, dieticians and healthcare practitioners can increase awareness of how one could improve their cooking skills and the importance of consuming local products and avoiding ultra-processed foods. This will be beneficial in reducing the environmental costs associated with the production of ultra-processed foods.²

Socio-cultural impact

Socio-cultural factors encompass the three main elements of sustainable nutrition mentioned above: health, environment, and economy. A study has shown that the level of understanding of sustainable nutrition varied between different age groups.¹¹ It was also found that females aged between 18 and 24, from more urban settings had the highest awareness of what it means to have a sustainable diet.¹¹

Healthy and sustainable diets vary in different societies and cultures especially due to:¹²

• Individual preferences or dietary requirements/allergies
• Household budget
• Available local foods
• Traditional cuisine/cooking style

It is also important to note that what would be a beneficial change for a certain society might not be beneficial for another. For instance, it would be more beneficial to increase meat and dairy consumption in poorer countries, to help increase nutrient intake and reduce malnutrition. However, it would be essential to reduce meat and dairy consumption to achieve a more sustainable diet in wealthier countries and to reduce the risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases.¹²

A study has shown that to maintain sustainability in nutrition, the following societal outcomes must be considered:⁷

• Economic vitality in terms of modifying policies within current food systems
• Environmental sustainability
• Social inclusion and human health which is linked to raising awareness of animal welfare, food culture, and security.

Therefore, it is important to modify societal and cultural views for the public to implement sustainable diets, which will affect the overall global economy, environment, and health.

Benefits of sustainable nutrition

There are different elements to take into consideration to achieve sustainable nutrition. Balancing the demands of each sustainable nutrition element is a complicated process.¹³ However, as mentioned before, with the joint effort from local communities to governmental organisations, it is possible to achieve the following:^2,5,7

• Tackle biodiversity loss
• Reduce water stress
• Improve farming and food production practices
• Improve accessibility of a healthy diet for all
• Increase the high intake of nutrients in an affordable and moderate manner
• Reduce food waste
• More energy efficiency
• Increased productivity
• Economic development
• Poverty reduction due to improvements in terms of physical and cognitive development

Summary

Sustainable nutrition or a sustainable diet is essential in improving current food systems. The world population continues to increase but there is an imbalance in diets achieved between poorer and wealthier countries. Hence more awareness must be provided to address this challenge, especially to ensure that future generations can experience sustainable nutrition. This will involve considering the factors affecting sustainable nutrition including health, social-cultural, environmental, and economic factors. 

Overall, worldwide organisations and local communities need to work together to provide a path to improving current food systems. Educational programmes should also play a hand in helping the public understand the importance and benefits of achieving a sustainable diet.