What is Sustainable Food Consumption?
This is a complex concept. The consumption of food consists of the production, i.e., the cultivation of food, and the actual consumption by the end consumer. Sustainable means first and foremost that food security is also guaranteed for future generations. Dealing with sustainable food consumption is always about how we can produce and consume our food sustainably so that it does as little harm as possible to the environment. Also, allowing future generations to live carefree on this planet. Sustainable consumption also means that less quantity of the food we produce and buy is thrown away.
In 2015, the member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda, which sets out 17 goals for socially, economically and ecologically sustainable development. These also include sustainable nutrition: “Sustainable Healthy Diets are dietary patterns that promote all dimensions of individuals’ health and wellbeing; have low environmental pressure and impact; are accessible, affordable, safe and equitable; and are culturally acceptable. The aims of Sustainable Healthy Diets are to achieve optimal growth and development of all individuals and support functioning and physical, mental, and social well-being at all life stages for present and future generations; contribute to preventing all forms of malnutrition (i.e., undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency, overweight and obesity); reduce the risk of diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); and support the preservation of biodiversity and planetary health. Sustainable healthy diets must combine all the dimensions of sustainability to avoid unintended consequences”.