There are a lot of talks, which go around; about how can one make our supply of food more sustainable in nature. In quite an increasing manner, eaters tend to relate by connecting the dots between a healthy diet and a healthy planet. Hence, a shift is needed on grocery store shelves.
For instance, in Safeway, there was a time when people had real hard time to find out veggie dogs but now, there is quite an expansive section of products carrying plant-based protein, which include sausages and vegan cheeses. Now, as there has been a rise in the sales of proteins based upon plants, awareness has grown regarding the ecological footprint of producing beef. Nobody really knew previously that 50 gallons of water could be required for the production of hamburger weighing ¼ lb.
In true sense, sustainability goes well beyond the production of food. In the year 2017, Unilever had made a commitment to use full 100 per cent recyclable packaging by 2025. Nestle has also made a similar kind of pledge. These organizations, along with all other big players, which include Mars and DANONE North America, have gone ahead to form a brand new trade association known as the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance that primarily aims to have their focus on issues related to nutrition, sustainable agriculture and also renewable energy.
During this week, foodies would put the issues of sustainability at the forefront of the International Forum on Food and Nutrition. This summit is set to be organized by the Barilla Centre for Food and Nutrition.
When Danielle Nierenberg, who is the editor of the book called, Nourished Planet, was asked, why the United States ranks at the 21st position out of 34 countries on the Index of Food Sustainability, he replied by saying that the U.S. does not have a concerted effort from the government’s side, behind the practices on sustainable farming like other countries do. Another thing that he went on to mention, is regarding the fact that Americans tend to ignore the true costs that go into the production of hamburgers, salads or for that matter, any other food.
