Planet's fate rests on our plates

In the Anthropocene era, it's not fossil fuels but food that drives many of our biggest global crises - from GHG emissions and land use change, to biodiversity loss and freshwater depletion. It's also the largest source of nitrogen, phosphorus and nutrient runoff, fuelling eutrophication worldwide.

An October 2025 ' EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy, sustainable, and just food systems' report presents fresh evidence on how to nourish a growing global population in a way that is fair for all, while staying within planetary boundaries. Dietary choices are critical because farmers decide what to grow based on market signals (consumption patterns) and government policies, such as procurement under PDS.

Unfortunately, today's dysfunctional food system is harming the planet and undermining human health. Over a quarter of the global population is either undernourished or overweight. The current system contributes to around 11 mn premature deaths each year, and fuels the rise of cardiovascular, respiratory and other chronic diseases.

Over the past decade, the world has focused on phasing out fossil fuels and investing in RE. Yet, the role of food in driving climate change is overlooked. Even if we achieve fossil fuel net neutrality, climate change will persist. Food is the missing link, and India's policies on farm production and consumption often work against the goal.

The EAT-Lancet report defines a healthy reference diet within planetary boundaries, as conceptualised by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Planetary Health Diet (PHD) recommends:

• Roughly 4 servings of animal protein a week - one serving of chicken, two servings of fish, one serving of dairy per day, and about one- and-a-half eggs per week.
• Significant reduction in red meat to about 14 gm a day, or one serving per week. This is many times less than what is consumed in the US and Europe. Nations where diets fall within planetary boundaries, like India, do so because people here can't afford more protein, meat or poultry.

To accomplish PHD, the commission suggests:

• Subsidies for agricultural production be shifted from meat and dairy to more planet-friendly vegetables, fruit, legumes and grains, making these healthier and more sustainable options more affordable.
• Stop expansion of agriculture into natural ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.
• Improve land and water productivity.
• Reorient agricultural priorities.

After five decades of pouring research and investment into boosting monoculture yields, it's time to channel equal effort into mixed, integrated farming systems that support healthier diets and ecological balance.

The challenge for universities and research institutions is not only to merge ecological and conventional agriculture through sustainable intensification, but also to ensure that knowledge is freely shared with developing countries. Greater sustainability is needed in regions operating at peak yield levels but struggling with unsustainable practices, while regions with the widest yield gaps must focus on achieving sustainable intensification.

India remains focused on production gains through procurement incentives rather than productivity gains through research. The only way to meet the Paris Agreement targets is to transform the global food system - shifting diets, cutting carbon emissions and food waste by half, and embracing sustainable farming. This includes reducing nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, curbing N2O emissions from fertilisers and manure, and cutting methane from livestock. India, however, falls short on all these fronts, with its growing chemical dependence further deepening the crisis.

At the core of PHD lies the principle of justice. It recognises that farmers are not just food producers, but individuals entitled to dignified livelihoods. Yet, the pressing question remains: how can farmers adopt sustainable practices when prevailing politics of food and populism - built around the idea of keeping food affordable - prevent farmgate prices from rising?

If Trump pushes the import of subsidised US grain, it will further depress farmgate prices in food-importing countries like India. Lower prices will push farmers deeper into poverty, perpetuating the cycle of unsustainable monoculture. Climate change can't be solved within political borders. The world must rethink how agricultural produce is traded - particularly within the WTO framework - and how its true cost is reflected on the consumer's plate.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com)