How is it changing the food sector in recent years to meet the greatest demands for sustainability?
What you'll find in this article:
- the real environmental impact linked to the food sector;
- what is meant by sustainable nutrition;
- the new regulations that are changing the market;
- how companies can promote a more sustainable diet;
- the main certifications for the food chain.
What are the environmental (and not only) impacts of the food industry?
Today, beyond three billion people In the world they suffer from malnutrition and billions of other people follow Unhealthy diets or Unbalanced. Meanwhile, the global population continues to grow rapidly and it is estimated that by 2050 we will be approximately 10 billion.
In this scenario, build a sustainable food system becomes necessary. We must make sure to guarantee all the inhabitants of the planet not only Enough food, but also access to ahealthy eating and nutritious.
The main obstacle to achieving this goal is represented by our current way of producing and consuming food, which has a profound and negative impact on Balances of the planet.
THEfarming is one of the main managers of global environmental change, contributing to phenomena such as climate change, deforestation, desertification, the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems.
The Nutrition Source, a leading authority on food and nutrition based at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health's, has released the following data that help us understand the scope of the problem:
- food production is responsible for about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the livestock sector alone contributes almost half (14.5%);
- beyond 40% of the emerged lands it is used for agricultural activities;
- Does agriculture absorb about 70% of fresh water available;
- It is the main factor that Threatens biodiversity And theExtinction of species;
- contributes toeutrophication of lakes and coasts;
- It brought about the 60% of fish stocks global to be fully exploited, and a further 33% To be overexploited.
What weighs heavily on this scenario is the change in eating habits at a global level, in particular theincreased meat consumption.
Over the past fifty years, the World production has tripled and per capita consumption has almost doubled, from 23 to 43 kg per year.
Meat, regardless of type or destination, is a form of food production highly inefficient: to provide the same calorie intake, it may take up to 100 times more land resources than vegetable crops.
In summary, current food systems are among the main causes of ongoing ecological crises. At the same time, these systems are vulnerable to such crises, creating a vicious cycle that threatens global food security.
If there is no change of course, it will be difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals ofAgenda 2030 of the United Nations and the commitments ofParis Agreement.
What does sustainable nutrition mean?
The concept of”sustainability“may take on different meanings depending on the context in which it is applied.
One of the most shared definitions at the international level is the one provided in 1987 by Brundtland Commission of the United Nations:
“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to satisfy their own.”
Applied to nutrition, this principle translates into a balance between environmental, social and economic needs. La food sustainability, in fact, does not only concern the impact on the environment, but also embraces aspects related to health, nutrition, social justice and economic accessibility.
A key definition is the one proposed by FAO, which describes sustainable diets as:
“Diets with low environmental impacts that contribute to food and nutritional security and to a healthy life for present and future generations. They are respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically equitable and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy; and they optimize the use of natural and human resources.”
In other words, thesustainable nutrition plans to adopt practices that can satisfy nutritional needs of the current and future population, without compromising the Health of the planet.
To make this concept concrete in everyday life, it is useful to refer to 3 fundamental pillars that should guide our food choices:
- consume less food;
- reduce waste;
- give preference to plant foods over those of animal origin.
Only by rethinking what and how we eat can we build a truly safe, equitable and sustainable food system.
How the European Union is promoting sustainable nutrition
As of today, theEuropean Union It is the only area in the world where the agricultural sector already has reduced its emissions of greenhouse gases, about 20% less compared to 1990 levels. However, the agricultural sector remains responsible for 10% of emissions totals, and about 70% Of these it comes from Farms.
To address this problem, the EU has set itself the goal of building a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system for everyone, reducing the environmental impact and supporting producers.
The central element of this vision is strategy.”Farm to Fork”, presented by the European Commission on 20 May 2020. This is a fundamental pillar of European Green Deal, which aims to transform the entire agri-food chain, from field to table, making it more resilient, just and environmentally friendly. To translate this vision into concrete actions, the Commission has set measurable goals to be achieved by 2030:
- Reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides;
- Decrease by 20% the use of fertilizers;
- Cut by 50% sales of antimicrobials for farms and aquaculture;
- allocate at least 25% from agricultural land to organic farming.
In addition to these goals, there is a review of regulations on animal welfare, food labeling, the fight against waste and the prevention of food fraud.
The 'Farm to Fork' strategy is also strongly integrated with other Green Deal tools, such as the new EU biodiversity strategy and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The ultimate goal is to achieve the carbon neutrality in Europe by 2050, even starting from what we eat.
The 5 ways to guide companies towards a more sustainable food future
The food sector It is today in front of increasingly complex challenges, linked to the need to combine productivity, food safety and environmental protection.
To guide companies in the food sector on the path to sustainability, they can be considered 5 priority areas of intervention. Let's see what they are.
1. Strengthen supply chain resilience
Climate crises, geopolitical instability and economic shocks make it increasingly urgent to invest in resilient supply chains. Adopting practices such as regenerative agriculture allows not only to guarantee the future supply of raw materials, but also to build solid relationships with farmers and suppliers.
2. Rethinking product portfolios
Environmental, nutritional, qualitative and economic performance must become key indicators. It is necessary to rethink recipes, ingredients, formats and packaging with a view to sustainable innovation. This is with a view to offering products that meet consumer expectations, but that at the same time reduce the impact on the environment.
3. Looking beyond carbon
Reduce emissions it's essential, but it's not enough. The food sector is highly dependent on natural ecosystems and, for this reason, it is appropriate to combine climate strategies with nature-positive strategies. This means integrating biodiversity, protecting the soil, protecting water resources.
4. Promote change in consumption
La corporate sustainability it also passes from the daily behavior of consumers. Companies can and must play an active role in promoting more conscious consumption by informing about the benefits of sustainable diets, combating food waste and encouraging responsible choices.
5. Anticipating regulatory change
The regulatory environment is changing rapidly and companies must be ready.
Key regulations include:
- the EU Regulation on Deforestation (EUDR);
- the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR);
- the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030;
- European regulations on ESG reporting, like the CSRD.
Preparing in advance, monitoring the markets and involving top management in managing regulatory risk means avoiding the costs of inaction and earning a competitive advantage as a leader of the sustainable transition.
What are the most important certifications, ESG ratings or international initiatives in the food sector
For companies in the food sector, obtain ESG certifications recognized internationally, represents an important step in demonstrating the concrete commitment to sustainable practices. These tools not only increase the transparency along the supply chain, but they also help to build trust with consumers, stakeholders and business partners.
Here are some of the sustainability certifications, ESG ratings or more relevant international initiatives.
- Rainforest Alliance: certifies that raw materials, such as coffee, tea or cocoa, are cultivated in a sustainable way, with respect for biodiversity, the rights of workers and local communities.
- MSC — Marine Stewardship Council: certifies fish and seafood from sustainable fishing activities, which preserve fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
- ASC — Aquaculture Stewardship Council: similar to the MSC, but specific for products derived from aquaculture, it promotes responsible practices in fish farms.
- AWS — Alliance for Water Stewardship: promotes the sustainable management of water resources along the entire supply chain, in line with international standards.
- SBTi — Science Based Targets initiative: validates the objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions based on scientific evidence, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
- EPD — Environmental Product Declaration: provides objective and verified data on the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire life cycle.
- ISO 14064: international standard for reporting and verification of Organization's carbon footprint.
- CDP: rating that evaluates transparency and climate performance.
- EcoVadis: rating that measures corporate sustainability on multiple dimensions, including environment, work, ethics and purchases.
