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

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Exploring Its Lower Carbon Footprint and Global Impact

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

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

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.

Τhe Mediterranean diet...

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.

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

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Land Use

Water Consumption

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

Biodiversity

Livestock production, particularly cattle, is a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), livestock accounts for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with beef and dairy production being the primary contributors . In contrast, plant-based diets generally result in significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. Growing plants for food involves fewer resources and processes that emit carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. For instance, producing a kilogram of beef can generate up to 60 kilograms of CO2-equivalent, whereas producing a kilogram of vegetables emits less than 2 kilograms of CO2-equivalent.

The production of meat, especially beef, requires extensive land. This land is used not only for grazing but also for growing feed crops. Livestock farming is a leading cause of deforestation, particularly in tropical regions like the Amazon rainforest, where vast tracts of forest are cleared to create pastureland. This deforestation results in significant biodiversity loss and the release of carbon stored in trees. Plant-based diets, on the other hand are more land-efficient. Growing crops for direct human consumption uses less land compared to growing crops for animal feed. For example, producing one calorie of beef requires approximately 20 times the land needed to produce one calorie of vegetables. Consequently, adopting a plant-based diet can help preserve forests and biodiversity.

Meat production is notably water-intensive. It takes about 15,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of beef, considering the water used for drinking, feed, and processing. Pork and chicken are less water-intensive but still require more water than most plant foods . Conversely, plant-based foods generally have a lower water footprint. Producing one kilogram of vegetables requires approximately 322 liters of water . Legumes, fruits, and grains also have relatively low water needs compared to meat. Thus, plant-based diets are more sustainable in terms of water consumption, contributing to better water resource management.

The expansion of agricultural land for livestock and feed crops leads to habitat destruction, which threatens wildlife. Overgrazing by livestock can degrade land, reducing its productivity and leading to desertification in some regions . Plant-based diets support biodiversity by reducing the need for extensive agricultural land. Sustainable crop farming practices, such as crop rotation and polyculture, can enhance soil health and provide habitats for various species. Additionally, reducing demand for meat can alleviate pressure on ecosystems and promote conservation efforts .

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.

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Mediterranean Diet:Key Components & Environmental Impact

High Plant-Based Food Consumption

Sustainable Seafood Consumption

Seasonal and Local Foods

Limited Red Meat Consumption

Moderate Dairy and Poultry Consumption

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Olive Oil as the Primary Fat Source

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.

''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.

World Overshoot Day & Its Relevance

• 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.

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Reduced Carbon Footprint

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

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.

Biodiversity Protection

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

Aligning the Mediterranean Diet with Sustainability Goals

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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.

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:

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.

Creditshttps://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.webphttps://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Country-Overshoot-Days-2024-500KB.jpgReferencesPoore, 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.

Environmental BenefitsOlive trees sequester carbon dioxide, offsetting some of the emissions from olive oil production and further reducing the diet’s carbon footprint.

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.

Environmental ResourcesRed meat production contributes to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and high water usage. By limiting red meat intake, the Mediterranean diet significantly reduces its environmental impact.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisPlant-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.

Plant-based food production requires less energy, water and land. Crops convert solar energy into food more efficiently than animal-based food production, where plants are first fed to animals and then the animals are consumed. This efficiency helps reduce the overall environmental impact of the Mediterranean diet.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisDairy 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.

Comparative ImpactRed meat production can emit up to 27 kg CO2-equivalent per kg of beef, making dairy and poultry comparatively more environmentally friendly. Moderating these foods reduces the overall carbon footprint of the Mediterranean diet.

Carbon Footprint AnalysisFish 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.

Sustainability PracticesSustainable seafood choices support fish populations and marine ecosystems, contributing to a lower overall carbon footprint.

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.

Local Sourcing BenefitsLocally sourced foods minimize transportation distances and energy use, reducing the diet’s overall carbon emissions. Transporting food by air can produce up to 50 times more CO2 than transporting the same food by sea.