Umweltbundesamt
Click to enlargeEcological, regional and plant-based: The transformation of our food system towards more sustainability was the focus of a research project commissioned by the German Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). New UBA brochure outlines strategies for a sustainable change in our diet.
The “promotion of a more plant-based diet”, the “further development of the organic farming and food industry” and the “strengthening of regional value chains” are three key strategies with a common goal – a sustainable food system. These important building blocks for transformation were the focus of a research project commissioned by the UBA and the BMUV. Summarised in a brochure, they offer a condensed overview of starting points for political decision-makers at all levels, as well as media professionals and all those who deal with the topic of sustainable nutrition in a differentiated way.
For the “promotion of a more plant-based diet”, it proposes in particular the establishment of a federal programme as well as measures in the area of community catering and for vocational education and training. This strategy should be prioritised because it has the greatest environmental impact and is a prerequisite for the other two strategies. In addition, it has a variety of positive effects in other policy areas. For example, it contributes to the food security of the growing world population and to healthier diets.
The key issues paper on the German government's food strategy also identifies plant-centred diets as the most important lever in the food sector for achieving national and international climate, biodiversity and sustainability goals.
Secondly, the “Further development of organic agriculture and food production” aims to improve the impact of organic farming. For example, breeding research can contribute to increasing land productivity. A second objective of the measures is to increase the proportion of organically farmed land in the total utilised agricultural space.
Finally, “strengthening regional value chains” deals with the question of where our food is produced and in which structures it is provided. The aim is to shorten value chains wherever this is ecologically feasible and sensible. To this end, political support for regional value chains should not be provided across the board, but rather when they guarantee ecological or social added value. This is particularly the case when the promotion of a regional approach goes hand in hand with an increase in the proportion of plant-based foods and organic products.
The UBA’s motto, For our environment (“Für Mensch und Umwelt”), sums up our mission pretty well, we feel. In this video we give an insight into our work.
