Policies for Sustainable Agricultural Production and Consumption

Abstract

The world is both obese and hungry. People die from the effects of both over-consumption and malnutrition. Much agricultural production produces excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, uses unsustainable amounts of resources (such as water) and pollutes the environment. The resulting food often contributes to diet-related ill-health and disease. We need to develop policies that promote an agriculture that produces health-giving foods in a way that minimises resource use and environmental impact and ensures the welfare of farm animals. This must include trade in healthy foods at affordable prices. Policies need to be developed in co-operation between relevant national and international bodies and with the active involvement of such intergovernmental organisations as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Policies could include public health awareness programmes, ending subsidies for intensive agriculture, promotion of low-impact farming, government sponsorship of healthy food programmes and selective taxes on unhealthy foods.