Opinion: World Food Day 2021 - 16th October
The 16th October 2021 will be World Food Day, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The day brings attention to the issue of accessibility for nutritious sustainable food. This issue is complicated. I hope to at least help awareness of key concerns in this area, even if the solutions are greater than my imagination.
The UN has a goal of, “Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.” Hopefully the world could find plant based solutions to these big issues. A whole food plant based diet is known to be generally more sustainable, especially for a large population. There are great health benefits associated with an increased consumption of whole vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds and grains. Plant based diets can prevent disease, support brain health and support comfortable weight loss. Some of humanity’s most serious health dilemmas can be addressed with whole plant foods.
One does not have to look far to find a resource that supports plant based vegan diets as sustainable options. This old study says, “Plant-based diets in comparison to diets rich in animal products are more sustainable because they use many fewer natural resources and are less taxing on the environment… Environmental data are rapidly accumulating on the unsustainability of current worldwide food consumption practices that are high in meat and dairy products… At the current trends of food consumption and environmental changes, food security and food sustainability are on a collision course.”
I believe the solution must include education about health and cooking alongside the basic distribution of nutritious foods. Sure, we could share more veggies. That is important. But people also need opportunities to learn easy methods of preparing and enjoying whole plant foods. When I transitioned to this diet, I was lucky to discover countless online resources that showed me how to cook. Everyone should have that opportunity.
We must stay compassionate towards the complexity of this goal though. I could only imagine the realities for people who struggle to access health-promoting foods. Developing nations and impoverished communities have a clear need for more food and education. This unfulfilled need could be closely linked with current environmental circumstances.
Meanwhile in developed countries like Australia, poorer locations also urgently need better understanding and connection to affordable sustainable real food. Supermarkets do have some organic fresh produce and pantry staples readily available in many locations. I just wish all aspects of society would promote those foods instead of junk.
There are other ways to acquire food beyond the supermarket too. I wish more people would shop direct from spray-free farms, buy some local produce from neighbours’ yards and even grow their own food at home. People just need to be shown how real food can be reached and it can change lives.
Wherever you are, whoever you are, there are many likely opportunities to improve your own relationship with food and help the food-security situation for humanity and the planet.
Vegetables and other whole plant foods can support the human health and environmental sustainability. Image above: Unsplash.
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