In 2019, the EAT-Lancet commission published the characteristics of the planetary diet, the basis of the plant-based diet. Its impact was so great that in 2022, the various European food safety agencies published new sustainable dietary and physical activity recommendations based on the planetary diet.
The concept of a ‘plant-based diet’ varies greatly in its definition. Some dietary guidelines based on this strategy reduce or eliminate the consumption of highly refined plant foods such as white flours, sugars and certain types of oils. Others classify plant-based diets according to their actual content. These include semi-vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian (seafood, eggs and dairy), lacto-ovo vegetarian (eggs and dairy) and vegan (no animal products). Plant-based diets have benefits for health in general and for cardiovascular risk in particular.
Purpose:
To achieve global health diets for nearly 10 billion people by 2050.
Objectives:
- Healthy diets.
The global health plate should consist of about half the volume of the plate in vegetables and fruits; the other half, based on their caloric intake, should consist mainly of whole grains, vegetable protein sources, unsaturated vegetable oils and (possibly) modest amounts of animal protein.
- Sustainable food production.
Strategies:
- Seek international and national commitment to a shift towards healthy diets.
- Shift agricultural priorities from producing large quantities of food to producing healthy food.
- Intensify food production in a sustainable manner to increase the production of high quality food.
- Strong and coordinated land and ocean management.
- Reduce food loss and waste by at least half, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Conclusion:
The global adoption of healthy diets from sustainable food systems would preserve our planet and improve the health of billions of people.
Source: EAT-Lancet Commission Report. Available at: https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet-commission/eat-lancet-commission-summary-report/
