Resolving the twin human and environmental health hazards of a plant-based diet

Autor: Kris A.G. Wyckhuys, Alexandre Aebi, Maarten F.I.J. Bijleveld van Lexmond, Carlos R. Bojaca, Jean-Marc Bonmatin, Lorenzo Furlan, Jairo A. Guerrero, Trinh V. Mai, Hoi V. Pham, Francisco Sanchez-Bayo, Yoshinori Ikenaka
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Environment International, Vol 144, Iss , Pp 106081- (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0160-4120
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106081
Popis: Food can be health-giving. A global transition towards plant-based diets may equally help curb carbon emissions, slow land-system change and conserve finite resources. Yet, projected benefits of such ‘planetary health’ diets imperfectly capture the environmental or societal health outcomes tied to food production. Here, we examine pesticide-related hazards of fruit and vegetable consumption, and list proven management alternatives per commodity, geography and chemical compound. Across countries, pesticide use in these alleged healthful foods is extensive with up to 97% food items containing residues and up to 42% posing dietary risks to consumers. Multiple residues are present in 70–92% of US- and China-grown stone fruit while 58% US cauliflower is tainted with neonicotinoid insecticides. Science-based alternatives and decision-support frameworks can help food producers reduce risks and potential harm by deliberately abstaining from pesticide use. As such, opportunities abound to advance ‘win-win’ diets that simultaneously nurture human health and conserve global biodiversity.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals