Is the FAO At It Again?

Written by: Sarah Novak   |   September 18, 2024

FAO, Guidelines

Earlier this year, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization released a report designed to help governments create healthier diets for their populations while making food systems more sustainable and equitable. The FAO stated in the “Food Systems-Based Dietary Guidelines” report that the guidelines are comprehensive and developed through a multidisciplinary and multisectoral process that considers environmental sustainability and socio-economic equity. 

While the concept of integrating sustainability into dietary guidelines MAY have good intentions, there are several arguments as to why it might be wise to keep “sustainability” (i.e., environmental decisions) separate from dietary recommendations: 

1. Nutritional Focus: The primary goal of a country’s dietary guidelines is to ensure the nutritional well-being of its population. By incorporating sustainability, the focus may shift away from optimal nutrition for people. For instance, the recommendations might prioritize what some consider as “environmentally friendly foods (or production practices)” that are not necessarily the most nutritious or accessible for all segments of the population. 

2. Complexity and Confusion: Adding sustainability criteria can complicate the public’s understanding and application of dietary guidelines. People may struggle to balance nutritional advice with environmental considerations, leading to confusion, potentially undermining the guidelines' effectiveness in improving health outcomes. 

3. Economic Impact: Emphasizing sustainability could have significant economic consequences, particularly for industries and workers involved in less sustainable but economically significant agricultural practices. For example, recommending reduced consumption of certain meats for environmental reasons could negatively impact local livestock farmers. 

4. Cultural Insensitivity: Dietary patterns are deeply rooted in cultural practices and traditions. Guidelines that prioritize sustainability may inadvertently favor certain diets over others, which could be perceived as culturally insensitive or impractical for certain populations. 

5. Scientific Uncertainty: The science linking specific dietary practices with environmental outcomes is continually evolving. Prematurely incorporating sustainability into dietary guidelines might lead to recommendations based on current, but potentially changing or incomplete scientific understanding. Each day, researchers around the world are looking at ways to help today’s farmers and ranchers do more with less.  

At the American Feed Industry Association, we support ongoing agricultural research and look forward to sharing the ways the U.S. animal food industry can help support farmers and ranchers raise their livestock, poultry and aquaculture more sustainable.