She said: “Climate change means we need to rethink our food systems. We have become reliant on extended food supply chains. Large amounts of food are imported from disproportionately affected areas, leading to significant declines in food productivity.
“Spain, for example, produces most of the fruit and vegetables consumed across Europe, but changing weather patterns are already disrupting production, and rising global temperatures will further reduce crop yields by 15% to 25%. It is estimated that it will decrease by 30%.
“Growing food more locally and in a wider range of locations can help compensate for the damage that has already taken place, while also mitigating further impacts. More than 90 percent of that has been lost in the last century, and that decline is linked to large-scale agriculture.
Furthermore, she added: „Many of the remaining crops are energy-dense and calorie-dense, but depleted of vitamins and nutrients. And while this has short-term benefits of increased yields, the ecosystem will change to match.“ Therefore, the types of crops that can be grown are limited, increasing the environmental costs of growing food. ”
reconnect
This new movement hopes to help people move away from ultra-processed foods, reducing energy and overall environmental costs, while also moving away from a food system largely controlled by large corporations. This includes reducing ultra-processed foods as much as possible and harnessing the power of simple, reduced-calorie diets, which can help improve health and protect the environment.
Dr. Tubourik and Dr. McCarthy believe that change should come both from the top down and from the bottom up, to hold big powerful organizations such as retailers and manufacturers accountable, not just policymakers. are inviting as many people as possible to join them. Do what you can to drive change.
Dr. Tubrik said: „As citizens, we sometimes feel helpless and don't know where to start making changes, and that's okay. Start by asking important questions about what you're eating and where it comes from. Let's start by doing.
“We need to reconnect with natural cycles and move away from the expectation that all food is available at all times. This is something for individuals to consider, but primarily due to the way supermarkets and other organizations operate and provide food. We need to see fundamental changes in what we do.”
„To eat seasonally, you also need to be aware that the climate is changing around the world, which can change the seasonality of food. But it also means that certain ingredients It's also about educating yourself about when is in season and where it comes from.
She concluded: “It is up to all of us to encourage big retailers to source more locally and to hold ourselves accountable and accountable for our actions. , only through collective action and engagement.”
this author
Ruby Harbor is an editorial assistant at. ecologist. This article is based on Inclusive Food's new campaign.