Many policymakers and innovative thinkers see the shift from animal to plant proteins as a key part of climate change mitigation.There are still disagreements.This transition could be made towards alternative proteins such as insect or plant-based proteins.
Circularity is an organizing principle that could apply alongside protein transition. Circularity is a principle that can be used to ensure waste minimization and efficiency in a food system.
In a recent Nature Food study, the Circular Food Systems (CiFoS), which is a quantitative tool to measure the effects of the two different approaches on land use and greenhouse gas emissions, was used. Two scenarios were examined. In both scenarios, people's diets changed to those recommended by the EAT-Lancet dietIn one case, the protein intake per person was 82g, while it fell to 46g in another.
What is the impact of proteins on climate change?
According to this study, in Europe, the average person currently consumes around 82 g of protein. Of this total, approximately 49 g comes from animal proteins. Many studies suggest reducing animal protein intake to create a sustainable food system. However, they do not recommend eliminating it completely.
The current study found that the country's greenhouse gas emissions and land use are significantly reduced when the ratio of animal to plant protein is reduced from 60:40 to 40:60 and when the number of animals is reduced. reduced significantly.
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This would reduce animal protein intake to 33 g/person/day, resulting in a reduction in land use of 59 % and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 81 %.
With an animal protein/plant protein ratio of 40:60, the recommended daily intake is 46 g. This would translate to 18g of animal protein per person.
Many people experience deficiencies in B12, calcium and other nutrients when they reduce their animal protein intake below 18g per day. To compensate for nutrient loss, land use would need to increase significantly to allow the cultivation of more nutrient-rich crops, such as legumes, seeds and nuts.
The article, which was not part of the study's main findings, briefly mentioned that fortification, supplementation and the development of future foods could be used to help reduce these nutritional deficiencies.
What is the impact of circularity on climate change?
However, researchers found that optimizing production, consumption and trade in a circular food system was the best way to reduce greenhouse gases and land use. Circularity can be achieved even when the ratio of animal to plant proteins remains at 60:40.
The company managed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use by 40 %. The circularity of the food system would be improved by reusing food waste as animal feed, that is, feeding animals a diet composed of crop residues and by-products. A 46g reduction in protein in land use and greenhouse gas emissions is 80 % lower with a 48g reduction.
Reducing transportation was crucial to reducing greenhouse gases. In an ideal scenario, transportation accounted for less than 5 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The study highlighted that some transportation is necessary if people want to adopt a plant-based lifestyle.
Climate change threatens raw materials
Unpredictable weather conditions such as increased precipitation regularly threaten prices of agricultural products.SogflationHeat (') is a measure of temperature increase.Heatflation'). '). CocoaYou can also learn more about: potatoesAre particularly vulnerable.
When you combine the two, what happens?
Both are superior, even if one is more effective than the other. The study found that implementing circularity and switching to a higher ratio of plant proteins can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 81 % and land use by 60 % .
According to the study, reducing protein consumption from 82 g to 46 g per day per person would not have a significant impact on this point.
Nature Food
Circular food systems can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use while supporting current levels of protein consumption in Europe.
Published on: May 28, 2024
Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-00975-2
Authors: WJ Simon, R. Hijbeek, A. Frehner, R. Cardinaals, EF Talsma & HHE van Zanten
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