WWF report assures dietary changes that align with climate needs are feasible

05 Oct 2023 --- The World Wildlife Fund headquarters in the Netherlands (WWF-NL) has released a groundbreaking research report about the connection between planetary sustainability and dietary choices based on a study using the Netherlands Nutrition Center’s Wheel of Five and the global EAT-Lancet menu for 2050.

The researchers have established the ideal menu for its Dutch case study from statistics that adhere to planetary boundaries such as carbon emission leaks, which serves as a foundation for future nutritional guidelines. 

“We all want tasty and healthy food. But our current food system is the greatest threat to nature worldwide. We have now managed to calculate a healthy and sustainable menu for 2050 within five planetary boundaries that is good for nature, climate and the environment and that meets all health recommendations,” says Corné van Dooren, advisor on sustainable food consumption at WWF-NL. 

Nutrition Insight reached out to WWF, who were unable to respond by the time of going to press. 

Nutrition based on Earth’s boundaries
According to WWF-NL, Dutch people can stay within the five main planetary boundaries by adapting their diets and calculating a healthy framework for a safe ecological carrying capacity for the planet. This new dietary outline can achieve the capped limits for greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen surplus, phosphate application, water use (for irrigation) and land use.

By keeping these in check, the environmental impact of food consumption can be significantly reduced by 2050. Biodiversity loss can be slashed by more than 50% by reigning in dietary choices.WWF-NL has given the Dutch population guidelines on eating within planetary boundaries. 

The environmental impact decreases by 43–83% for men and 48–58% for women, with the exception of water use. Essentially, the reduction is less for women because their environmental impact is also statistically lower than that of men.

Eating within planetary boundaries by 2050 will require gargantuan efforts. However, the dietary model that has been calculated is still quite diverse and includes animal products but to a much lesser extent than current estimations. It is not a completely vegetarian or vegan menu.

Last month, ProVeg Netherlands released its research findings with the Netherlands Nutrition Center about a broad spectrum of nutritional values in plant-based meat alternatives, including the critical markers salt and protein.

Pocket guide to planet-eating
WWF’s planet-friendly eating plan consists of four pieces of advice — eat more plant-based and less animal-based, choose fresh and local over highly processed products, select products from sustainable agriculture, such as organic and bring more variety and balance to your plate in moderation.

WWF-NL recommends that Dutch people eat more nuts, legumes, soy and meat substitutes to achieve the goals. Meat consumption is already reduced in the region — down to between 0.5 to 1.5 portions a week. Cheese is less than half of the current recommendation in the Wheel of Five.

There is room for 1 to 1.5 portions of fish per week, provided it is from sustainable catch. Between one and three eggs a week are permitted and one to two portions of liquid dairy daily, the same amount as current consumption.

Bread and whole grain products remain an essential source of nutrients along with natural fruit and vegetables with a low environmental impact. Water, coffee and tea are the most critical drinks as recommended by the current Wheel of Five.

Bump-up advisory measures
The environmental group has cautioned that we are nearing the limits of a livable Earth and natural systems are under severe pressure. Dutch eating habits today cause biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, deforestation and overfishing and the current official nutritional advice needs to consider nature more.Governmental advisory measures on diet need to be updated to meet environmental sustainability targets, WWF-NL notes.

The current Dutch government target of 50% vegetable protein by 2030 needs to be tightened to two-thirds vegetable protein by 2050, WWF-NL recommends. The menu, therefore, requires further steps than the current Wheel of Five but fewer than the EAT-Lancet menu.

The dietary recommendations are only feasible if agriculture produces food using less raw materials and fossil energy and if less food is wasted.

Moreover, the Institute of Food Technologists has examined global food insecurity and how to address one of the world’s biggest food challenges — food loss. 

Foodvalley NL outlined the untapped potential of upcycling side streams from food production into new food-grade ingredients to create a more circular food system. 

Meanwhile, coastal communities in many developing nations rely on small-scale fisheries for 15-30% of their nutrient intake. However, researchers from WWF, the University of California Santa Barbara and Harvard University found that an average of 50% of those living in these communities need an adequate intake of essential nutrients.

In addition to climate niche modeling, new research has identified how forgotten food crops can diversify or replace major staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa by 2070 and benefit micronutrient supply. The study identified 58 crops, including “better-adapted and more nutritious” vegetables, fruits, cereals, pulses, seeds, nuts, roots and tubers.

By Inga de Jong