In this blog series, I have looked at the environmental degradation associated with agriculture and assessed if converting to veganism is a good solution for our environment and food security issues. In this final blog, I am going to reflect on those two themes and share my conclusions of what I think sustainable food consumption should look like.
The food gap
By 2050, 20,500 trillion calories per year will be needed to feed the world’s population. To achieve this a 56% food gap needs to be closed (from a 2010 base year) (figure 1).
Figure 1: The food gap between 2010 and 2050
There are two ways to close the food gap sustainably – through reduced growth and demand for food (table 1) and through increased food production without agricultural land expansion (table 2).
Is veganism a good solution to close the food gap?
As seen above, reducing animal-product consumption forms an important part of the solution to close our food gap whilst limiting environmental degradation. However, I am not going to end this blog with a declaration that we should all become vegan. Veganism is an environmentally sustainable diet, but it is not a socially sustainable one. Figure 2 shows the four strategies needed to shift collective consumption and one of these is to minimize disruption. Converting to veganism is disruptive and so it is unlikely to be adopted by the wider population.
Figure 2: Four strategies to shift consumption
Instead, I would recommend making more informed food choices (figure 3) and reducing rudiment meat consumption, such as beef and lamb.
Figure 3: What is a sustainable meal
Reflecting on the planetary boundaries concept
Along with researching veganism, I have also looked at 4 of the planetary boundaries and investigated their relationship with agriculture - including land system change, biosphere integrity, freshwater use and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles.
Through writing this blog, I have discovered multiple criticisms of the planetary boundaries concept. For example, inappropriate control variable and boundary settings and failure to take into account the inequalities between the global north and south.
Figure 4 shows an improved framework that combines the planetary boundary concept as an environmental ceiling but adds social foundations that take into account basic human needs. Sustainable consumption should sit in the light green section (the safe and just operating space for humanity).
Figure 4: Doughnut economics concept
Concluding remarks
I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog and I have learnt a lot about sustainable food consumption and the environmental issues associated with agriculture. I am not converting to veganism, but I am going to limit my beef consumption, cook more vegetarian food and use meat and dairy alternatives when possible. So… maybe The Sustainable Omnivore is a better name for me.
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