Towards healthy, sustainable and inclusive European food systems
What can be done to prepare Europe's food systems for the future? In a new Policy Précis, released today, EuroHealthNet examines pathways, solutions and best practices to move towards healthier and more sustainable and inclusive food systems in Europe and beyond.
Despite growing concern about sustainability, Europe's food systems still put undue stress on our environment. B y restraining access to decent and affordable nutrition, our food systems perpetuate and drive up health inequalities. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continues to subsidize intensive production of alcohol, meat, dairy fats and sugars, products that are known to contribute to the growing prevalence of obesity, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Current food systems account for up to 30% of the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions and large amounts of water use. Through transport and intensive production methods, these systems contribute to pollution and associated illnesses. Furthermore, 55% of adults and one in four children in Europe is overweight or obese. Levels of NCDs are growing and have a huge negative impact on both lives and health budgets. Additionally, as the number of suppliers and buyers has decreased, and marketing strategies have become more aggressive, high-quality food has become accessible mostly by the most literate and affluent consumers, adding to existing health inequalities. It is clear that the CAP is not fit for modern challenges in the context of climate change, rising obesity prevalence and social inequalities.
Recognition that solutions lie in integrated actions is growing. Policy coherence between health, social, environmental and economic goals is vital. Some countries are integrating health and sustainability in national nutrition guidelines, and there is an increasing number of innovative actions to shorten food supply chains and bring together relevant stakeholders.
However, more needs to be done. EuroHealthNet is calling for sustainable development indicators to be integrated within the flagship European Semester and Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs). Additionally, stronger regulatory measures to discourage excessive market consolidation and enable smaller economic actors and innovators to compete and survive are needed. The EU will inevitably need to transform its food system to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
To learn more, read our new Policy Précis Towards a healthy, sustainable and inclusive European Food System.
Related initiatives and publications
FEAST drives a just transition to a healthier and more sustainable EU food system, aiming to achieve positive outcomes for people, the planet, as well as the public and private sectors.
The EU Joint Action Best-ReMaP helped create environments that offer healthy food by improving the quality of food. This inititaive is being taken further by the Joint Action PreventNCDs.
The 2023 European Public Health Conference focused on sustainable food systems. EuroHealthNet organised a plenary on food system transitions and spoke at 7 other sessions.
EuroHealthNet co-authored an article in EUROHEALTH called Transitioning to more sustainable food systems that support health equity and wellbeing.
EuroHealthNet Magazine released an edition on sustainability and food systems, exploring the vulnerability of these systems to climate change, economic shocks, and political instability.
Reducing childhood obesity is a collective duty – EuroHealthNet makes recommendations for bolder joined-up action.
