Healthier eating can make the food system on the planet more favorable and improve the lives of people worldwide.
A major report on the global food system states that less than 1% of the world's population follows a diet that is beneficial for the planet and human health. However, a shift to healthier eating could prevent up to 15 million premature deaths each year while simultaneously reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20%.
What exactly does the new work say?
The findings of the 2025 Nutrition Commission report were published by the Lancet journal. The report summarizes the expertise of nutritionists, climatologists, economists, doctors, sociologists, and agronomists from more than 35 countries around the world.
The team assessed the impact of the food system on human health and the environment and concluded that food production threatens five Earth systems that need to be maintained in balance for the survival of the human race.
These five threats are climate, land, water, nitrogen, and phosphorus pollution, as well as anthropogenic pollution such as pesticides and microplastics.
If the food system were to change in a way that provides all of us with healthier nutrition, we could restore these systems to safe levels while improving people's lives.
"If everyone adhered to healthy eating, by 2050 we could feed 10 billion people using 7% less land than we use today," said study author Dr. Fabrice DeClercq.
The report recommends following a planetary health diet (PHD): a diet that prioritizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.
If you follow the PHD, half of your plate should be filled with vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Then, another 30% will consist of whole grains, and the remainder will be protein sources, with a preference for legumes such as beans, lentils, and other pulses.
Meat, fish, and dairy products are not mandatory in the PHD, and there is an upper limit, but the diet can be flexible. For example, when adhering to the upper limit of the range, you can consume up to 200 g of beef per week while still staying within the recommendations.
DeClercq added that the diet can be adapted to individual characteristics, encouraging people to tailor it to their culture and preferences.
