India’s food consumption patterns are the most sustainable among major global economies, revealed a recent report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The report tittled “Living Planet Report 2024” highlighted India as a leader in sustainable eating, emphasising that if other nations followed India’s dietary habits, the environmental impact of food production could be significantly reduced, according to Moneycontrol.
The study found that by 2050, India’s food consumption would only require 0.84 Earths to meet its food production needs, positioning the country as a model for sustainable diets. In contrast, nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina were noted as less sustainable, with Argentina needing 7.42 Earths to sustain its food demands.
The report also warned that if the world adopted the food consumption patterns of G20 nations by 2050, greenhouse gas emissions from food production could surpass the 1.5°C climate target by 263%. Countries like Australia and the US, where diets are resource-heavy, would require 6.83 and 5.55 Earths, respectively, to sustain their current food production levels.
India and Indonesia were identified as the most climate-friendly countries, with India standing out due to its plant-based food culture and emphasis on grains like millets. The report urged a global shift towards sustainable diets to prevent land degradation and support nature restoration, stating that such a move could reduce the land needed for food production and promote carbon sequestration.