HOW TO EAT TO NOURISH PEOPLE WHILE PROTECTING THE PLANET

growth, development, and school performance; and decreased work productivity; all of which ultimately limit human potential.”

The micronutrient shortfalls of the planetary health diet are due to the low amount of animal source foods, which make up just 14% of total calories. To make the planetary health diet adequate in micronutrients would require increasing nutrient-dense animal source foods. In addition, it would require reductions in a compound called phytate, which inhibits absorption of iron, zinc, and calcium. This could be done by reducing the proportion of whole grains, legumes, and nuts—from the baseline planetary health diet, not from current consumption— or, preferably, by reducing the phytate in these foods through crop breeding and processing, including soaking, fermenting, and sprouting.

According to Dr Jessica Fanzo, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Food Policy at Johns Hopkins University and co-author, “The challenge in providing enough micronutrients is doing so sustainably. It is not clear exactly how much animal source food, and which types, could be sustainably produced worldwide: experts have different perspectives. But there is a limit. And there will inevitably be trade-offs to grapple with, between human health and environmental sustainability. It is important to use all available approaches to improve diets, including improving diet quality through nutrient-dense foods of both plant and animal origin, and food fortification and supplementation, which have limitations but can help fill micronutrient gaps sustainably and affordably.”

What is clear is that a combination of actions is needed to increase access to diverse nutrient-dense and healthy foods and supplements. This includes increasing their availability, desirability, convenience, safety and affordability through incentives and subsidies, improving fortification policies and implementation; and improving access to healthcare and supplements.

Dr Mduduzi Mbuya, Director of Knowledge Leadership at GAIN concluded, “Future efforts to propose healthy and sustainable diets must ensure micronutrient adequacy, tailor recommendations according to the local context, equitably involve local stakeholders impacted by any changes, and be transparent about trade-offs. Preserving human health and protecting our planet are more important now than ever. All of society must rise to the challenge, now, to address these integrally linked and equally important challenges.”