Food is a doorway

When it comes to fighting climate change, for instance, one of the most impactful ways to help the planet is changing our food habits. 

As our friends at GIY Ireland say, “Food production is responsible for almost a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, while habitat loss from allocating land for food production is the main driver of biodiversity loss. Globally more than 690 million people remain undernourished, while diet is the leading cause of mortality in the developed world.” 

While food production is one of the key problems, it is also an accessible part of the solution.

• Producing meat and dairy releases a lot of greenhouse gases. By eating more plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains, we can cut down on these emissions. Even small changes, like having meatless meals a few times a week, make a big difference.
• Raising animals for food uses a lot of water, land, and energy. It takes up to 20 times more land and 8 times more water to produce a kilo of beef than a kilo of vegetables. Choosing more plant-based foods helps us use these resources more efficiently.
• A lot of food ends up in the bin. Globally, about one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted, and the EPA estimates that Ireland generated 753,000 tonnes of food waste in 2021. Not only is the food never eaten, but all the energy and resources used to produce it are also gone. In industrialised nations, about 20-40% of food waste occurs at the production, harvest and processing stages, with a further 50% of total food waste occurs in households and retail settings. Consumers can reduce food waste by planning meals carefully, buying only what they need, and properly storing food to extend its shelf life.