The Mediterranean Diet: ''A Healthful and Eco-Friendly Choice''

The Mediterranean Diet: ''A Healthful and Eco-Friendly Choice''

Exploring Its Lower Carbon Footprint and Global Impact

Mediterranean Diet for Overall Health (MedDiet4Health) Pr. numb.: 2023-2-EL01-KA210-VET-000183592

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Τhe Mediterranean diet...

This presentation will:

• help you explore why the Mediterranean diet has a smaller environmental impact and
• provide context by examining World Overshoot Day, which highlights the balance between humanity's resource consumption and the Earth's ability to regenerate those resources.

Plant-Based vs. Meat-Based Diets: Environmental Impact

Growing awareness of climate change has led many to assess the sustainability of their food choices. This debate involves factors like greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water consumption, and biodiversity.

Plant-Based vs. Meat-Based Diets: Environmental Impact

Understanding these impacts is crucial for making informed dietary decisions that support environmental sustainability.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Land Use

Water Consumption

Biodiversity

The environmental impact of our dietary choices is profound. While meat-based diets significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, water scarcity and biodiversity loss, plant-based diets offer a more sustainable alternative.

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The Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and olive oil and moderate in fish and poultry, offers a sustainable and healthful alternative to the resource-intensive Western diet. Originating from the traditional dietary patterns of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, this diet has been celebrated for its numerous health benefits, including reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Mediterranean Diet:Key Components & Environmental Impact

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Limited Red Meat Consumption

Olive Oil as the Primary Fat Source

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High Plant-Based Food Consumption

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Sustainable Seafood Consumption

Moderate Dairy and Poultry Consumption

Seasonal and Local Foods

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Carbon Footprint Comparisons When comparing the carbon footprints of various diets, the Mediterranean diet is notably more environmentally friendly:

• High meat diets: Emissions can exceed 2,000 kg CO2-equivalent per person per year.
• Vegetarian diets: Typically result in emissions of about 1,200 kg CO2-equivalent per person per year.
• Mediterranean diet: Generally results in around 1,500 kg CO2-equivalent per person per year.

Avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the biggest ways to reduce your environmental impact, according to scientific studies.

World Overshoot Day & Its Relevance

''Understanding our ecological deficit'' World Overshoot Day is the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what Earth can regenerate in a year.

• The calculation of World Overshoot Day involves comparing humanity’s ecological footprint (encompassing carbon emissions, cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds, built-up land, and forest products) with the Earth’s biocapacity, which is the ability of ecosystems to regenerate those resources.
• In 2023, World Overshoot Day fell on August 2, meaning that by this date, humanity had already used up the resources that the planet can sustainably regenerate in the entire year.
• This stark reminder calls for transformative changes in how we produce, consume, and live to move the date back and achieve sustainability.

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Connection of World Overshoot Day to Dietary Choices The Mediterranean diet’s lower carbon footprint aligns with efforts to push back World Overshoot Day. By reducing meat consumption, favoring plant-based foods and supporting sustainable practices, the Mediterranean diet helps reduce individual and collective ecological footprints. Lowering carbon emissions through dietary choices can contribute to a more sustainable balance between human consumption and the Earth's regenerative capacity.

Aligning the Mediterranean Diet with Sustainability Goals

Adopting the Mediterranean diet can help mitigate some of the environmental pressures highlighted by World Overshoot Day. Here’s how this dietary pattern contributes to sustainability:

Efficient Land Use

The diet’s reliance on plant-based foods and moderate meat consumption means less land is required for grazing and growing animal feed. This helps preserve forests and biodiversity.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

By prioritizing fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes, the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Biodiversity Protection

Reduced demand for meat can lessen the pressure on ecosystems and wildlife habitats, supporting biodiversity.

Water Conservation

Plant-based foods typically require less water than animal-based products. By consuming more plant-based foods, individuals can help conserve water resources.

World Overshoot Day and the Mediterranean Diet: A Path to SustainabilityWorld Overshoot Day serves as a critical reminder of the ecological limits we face. Shifting to sustainable dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, can play a significant role in addressing these challenges. By adopting the Mediterranean diet, individuals can improve their health while contributing to the reduction of their ecological footprint. This dietary shift, combined with broader systemic changes in agriculture, energy, and waste management, can help move the date of World Overshoot Day back, promoting a more sustainable and balanced coexistence with our planet.

Credits https://www.fao.org/4/i3437e/i3437e.pdfhttps://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46459714https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/F740/production/_121269236_green_diet_range_chart_640_v3x3-nc.png.webp https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Country-Overshoot-Days-2024-500KB.jpg References Poore, J., & Nemecek, T. (2018). "Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers." Science, 360(6392), 987-992. Ripple, W. J., et al. (2014). "Ruminants, climate change and climate policy." Nature Climate Change, 4(1), 2-5. Springmann, M., et al. (2018). "Options for keeping the food system within environmental limits." Nature, 562(7728), 519-525. Tilman, D., & Clark, M. (2014). "Global diets link environmental sustainability and human health." Nature, 515(7528), 518-522.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisOlive oil, the primary fat in the Mediterranean diet, has a lower carbon footprint compared to animal fats:

• Olive oil production emits approximately 3 kg CO2-equivalent per kg of oil, whereas butter emits around 10 kg CO2-equivalent per kg.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisRed meat, especially from ruminant animals like cattle, has the highest carbon footprint among common foods:

• Beef production is associated with high methane emissions and extensive resource use, with a carbon footprint of up to 27 kg CO2-equivalent per kg.

Carbon Footprint Analysis Plant-based foods generally have a lower carbon footprint due to their lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during production:

• Legumes and vegetables emit between 0.3 to 1 kg of CO2-equivalent per kg of food.
• Nuts and seeds have slightly higher emissions, around 2 to 2.5 kg CO2-equivalent per kg.

Carbon Footprint Analysis Dairy products and poultry have a higher carbon footprint compared to plant-based foods, but these are still lower than that of red meat:

• Dairy products typically emit between 1.2 to 3 kg of CO2-equivalent per liter of milk or per kg of cheese.
• Poultry emits approximately 5 to 6 kg CO2-equivalent per kg of meat.

Carbon Footprint Analysis Fish and seafood are integral to the Mediterranean diet, with a focus on sustainability:

• Sustainable fishing practices help preserve marine ecosystems and reduce overfishing.
• The carbon footprint of fish varies but can be relatively low, especially for small pelagic fish like sardines and anchovies.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisEating seasonal and locally sourced foods reduces carbon emissions associated with:

• Transportation: Foods transported over long distances contribute to higher CO2 emissions.
• Storage: Energy-intensive storage methods for non-seasonal foods increase the carbon footprint.