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WWF recognizes India’s eating habits as world's greenest
India’s plant-based diet and reliance on grains such as millet were credited for the country’s low environmental footprint.
Representative Image / Pexels
India’s food consumption patterns have been recognized as the most sustainable among major economies, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) “Living Planet Report” 2024.
The report praised India's National Millet Campaign for promoting traditional, climate-resilient grains like millet, positioning the country as a global model for sustainable eating.
It is estimated that by 2050, India’s food consumption will require just 0.84 Earths to meet food production demands, compared to much higher figures for other nations. According to the report, if other countries followed India’s dietary habits, the environmental burden of food production could be significantly reduced.
India’s plant-based diet and reliance on grains such as millet were credited for the country’s low environmental footprint. The report emphasized that millets, being highly nutritious and climate-resilient, could thrive in harsher conditions, making them an essential part of sustainable diets as the world grapples with climate change.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina were cited for having less sustainable food consumption patterns, with Argentina needing a staggering 7.42 Earths to sustain its food production by mid-century.
The WWF warned that global food production if aligned with current consumption patterns in G20 nations, could surpass the 1.5-degree Celsius climate target by 263% by 2050. Resource-heavy diets in countries like Australia and the US were identified as key contributors, requiring 6.83 and 5.55 Earths, respectively, for food production at current levels.
The report urged other nations to adopt sustainable diets and reduce reliance on land-intensive practices like grazing. It recommended promoting traditional, regionally appropriate foods to support global climate goals and help restore degraded lands while reducing carbon emissions.
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