The State of Food and Agriculture report 2024 revealed that India’s hidden costs of agrifood systems are substantial, primarily driven by unhealthy dietary patterns.
What are agrifood systems?
- This system includes all activities and actors which are part in moving food from farms to consumers.
- It includes various processes such as agricultural production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management.
- Significance: It emphasizes the impact of economic, social, and environmental factor in determining how food reaches the consumers.
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- Total Costs: India’s hidden costs of agrifood systems are around $1.3 trillion annually.
- Main Drivers: Unhealthy dietary patterns and risks associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
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About State of Food and Agriculture 2024 Report
- Published by: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Purpose of the SOFA Report
- Comprehensive Analysis: Offers in-depth analysis of key trends, challenges, and opportunities in the agricultural and food sectors.
- Policy Guidance: Provides evidence-based recommendations to help governments and stakeholders formulate policies for sustainable development.
- Focus on Food Security: Examines pressing issues that affect global food security, nutrition, and agricultural productivity.
Key Themes: -
- Environmental Impact: Looks into the environmental costs of food production, such as greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and biodiversity loss.
- Economic and Social Costs: Evaluates hidden economic and social costs, including health impacts, poverty among agrifood workers, and inequality within food systems.
- Health and Nutrition: Highlights dietary risks and health challenges, especially the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases due to poor dietary patterns.
What are Hidden Costs in an agrifood system?
- Hidden costs in agrifood systems refer to expenses that are not immediately apparent but arise from various aspects of food production and agriculture.
- These costs impact the environment, health, and society.
- Environmental Impact
- Food production can lead to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and biodiversity loss, all of which have hidden environmental costs.
- Health Implications
- Unhealthy dietary patterns stemming from certain food production practices increase healthcare expenses due to diseases related to poor nutrition.
- Social and Economic Costs
- Low wages and limited opportunities for agrifood workers contribute to poverty, which in turn affects overall productivity and economic stability.
Key Findings of the report
- Key Contributors to Hidden Costs
- Unhealthy Diets: High intake of processed foods and additives, coupled with low consumption of whole plant foods and healthy fatty acids, make up 73% of India’s agrifood hidden costs.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): These Dietary patterns are linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes represent substantial hidden costs.
- Impacts of Processed Foods and Low Plant-Based Diets
- Processed Foods: The report estimates hidden costs from excessive processed food consumption at $128 billion.
- Low Plant and Nutrient-Rich Foods: Insufficient intake of whole grains, fruits, and healthy fats adds $846 billion to hidden costs.
- Additional Social and Environmental Costs
- Social Costs: Low productivity and wages among agrifood workers, driven by systemic distribution challenges, contribute to hidden costs.
- Environmental Impact: Emissions from the food supply chain, including GHG emissions, nitrogen leaching, and runoff, add to environmental hidden costs.
- Global Context of Hidden Costs
- India has the third-highest hidden agrifood costs worldwide, following China ($1.8 trillion) and the United States ($1.4 trillion).
- Globally, agrifood systems’ hidden costs are estimated at $12 trillion annually in which unhealthy dietary patterns alone account for $8.1 trillion.
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Recommendations for Sustainable Agrifood Systems
- Promote Healthier Diets: Advocates for policies that make nutritious food more accessible and affordable to reduce health-related costs.
- Environmental Conservation: Encourages practices that lower greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen pollution, and promote biodiversity.
- Empowering Consumers: Recommends empowering consumers with information about the social, environmental, and health impacts of food choices.
November 12, 2024
