Swiss Government Encourages Reduced Meat Consumption in Climate Strategy, Plant Based News, September 14, 2023
The Swiss government has launched a new Agriculture and Food Climate Strategy outlining the benefits of reducing meat consumption in the country. The strategy states that greenhouse gas emissions from food production must be reduced by two-thirds per capita by 2050 compared to 2020 levels. Emissions from domestic agricultural production must be reduced by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels. The strategy states that a diet rich in plant-based foods and lower in meat “has benefits for both health and the environment.” The report also notes that meat consumption in the country is very high compared to official dietary guidelines, while consumption of dairy products, legumes, fruits, and vegetables is very low.
Developments Around the World
How Can Less Meat and More Plants Solve Food Insecurity? VegNews, September 15, 2023
The world is facing a food crisis. According to a recent United Nations (UN) report, more than 250 million people in 58 countries faced acute food insecurity in 2022. This was a significant increase from 2021, when 193 million people in 53 countries were affected. “Some are on the brink of starvation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “This is an outrage,” before calling for “fundamental, systemic change.” According to the latest Global Report on Food Crises, several key factors contributed to the situation. First, the economic shocks from the pandemic and Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine, as well as conflicts in countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen. However, extreme weather conditions caused by the climate crisis are also having a major impact. The UN states that “climate extremes” are the main cause of acute food insecurity for more than 56 million people in 12 countries.
COP28 to Be First UN Climate Summit Focused on Food with Alternative Proteins, Green Queen, September 13, 2023
COP28 made headlines last month by announcing that it would focus primarily on plant-based foods; this is a sign that this year’s UN climate summit (November 30-December 12) will focus more on food systems than in previous years. Alongside mostly vegan refreshments, the conference will also feature announcements on food policies.
From Meat to Plants: Global Diet Change Could Cut Emissions by a Third and Halt Deforestation, Green Queen, September 13, 2023
According to a new peer-reviewed study, replacing 50% of our meat and dairy consumption with plant-based alternatives by 2050 could deliver significant climate benefits, reduce agriculture and land use emissions by 31%, and halt the destruction of forests and natural areas.
Switching to vegan meat and dairy products and reforesting land freed up from livestock farming could double the climate benefits, halve future ecosystem decline, and significantly reduce food system emissions by 2050. If half of animal products were replaced, land used for livestock would decrease by 12% and water use would fall by 10% compared to the 2020 baseline.
Can a Plant-Based Diet Help with Allergies? New Study Says Yes, VegNews, September 13, 2023
Over the past few decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, has increased significantly worldwide. A new study published in the journal Nutrients, led by researcher Zhang Ping from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, sheds new light on the complex relationship between allergic diseases and diet. Specifically, the findings suggest that a plant-based diet may hold the key to treating serious allergic diseases, particularly those associated with obesity.
