Climate Change and Food Systems: A Shift Towards Plant-Based Options

Strategic Insights -

At the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, at least half of the food on offer is vegan or vegetarian, reflecting a growing trend towards plant-based options amidst calls to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released a roadmap outlining a way to feed the world over the next 25 years without increasing emissions and land clearing. The roadmap includes 120 recommendations, such as protecting consumers from invasive marketing campaigns and shifting meat production from red meat to chicken.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAO roadmap emphasizes the need to cut back meat and dairy consumption in wealthy countries to hit health and environmental targets.
  • The report highlights the importance of livestock in providing protein and micronutrients, but also notes that the sector contributes between 25 and 50 per cent of agrifood system emissions.
  • Australia has signed up to the UAE's Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, which aims to create pathways to low-emissions agriculture.
  • Meat giant JBS and Nestlé are among a new coalition of 20 food sector corporations that will use their buying power to drive consumer demand for responsibly-sourced products.
  • A $300-million food innovation partnership has been launched between the UAE, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and global agriculture research body CGIAR.
  • National Farmers' Federation president David Jochinke emphasizes the need for farmers to use technology and the best research to reduce emissions, rather than reducing production.
  • Food security advocate Paul Newnham stresses the importance of considering the impact of ingredients on the environment.
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy executive director Sophia Murphy argues that the FAO roadmap neglects to address fossil fuels in food systems and calls for big agricultural companies to make real emissions reductions.

Statistics:

  • The FAO roadmap outlines a way to feed the world over the next 25 years without increasing emissions and land clearing.
  • Livestock contributes between 25 and 50 per cent of agrifood system emissions.
  • Australia has signed up to the UAE's Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action, alongside 149 other countries.
  • The new coalition of 20 food sector corporations aims to drive consumer demand for responsibly-sourced products.
  • The $300-million food innovation partnership has been launched between the UAE, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and CGIAR.

Sources:

  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
  • The United Nations' COP28 climate summit in Dubai
  • The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Australia
  • Meat giant JBS
  • Nestlé
  • The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Global agriculture research body CGIAR
  • National Farmers' Federation
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
  • Food security advocate Paul Newnham
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy executive director Sophia Murphy