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A new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health, focusing on the effects of increased consumption of highly processed foods, confirmed the link between consumption of highly processed foods and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Consumption of highly processed foods, such as cold cuts, ready meals, margarines, confectionery, soft drinks, sweetened cereals, packaged pastries and foods containing artificial ingredients including sweeteners and flavours, has increased in the last thirty years, while consumption of unprocessed foods has decreased. The study showed an increasing impact of the consumption of highly processed foods on the environment, mainly due to the increased consumption of highly processed meat. According to the results, higher consumption of highly processed meat has doubled the impact of food consumption per person on the environment and is associated with up to 20% of total emissions related to food consumption.
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On 12/11/2021, the European Commission approved the launch of another insect species - the locust - as a novel food on the market in the European Union. The locust will be available in the form of a frozen, dried and powdered product, and will be marketed as a snack or food ingredient in several food products. Products containing this novel food will be labelled to indicate possible allergic reactions. The first authorization of insects as a novel food, for dried yellow mealworms, was received last July. In various studies, the Food and Agriculture Organization has identified insects as a highly nutritious and healthy food source high in fat, protein, vitamins, fibre and minerals. Insects, which are consumed daily by millions of people on the planet, have been identified in the Farm to Fork strategy as an alternative source of protein that could facilitate the transition to a more sustainable food system.
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The German Thünen-Institut has carried out an economic and environmental impact assessment of the introduction of eco-schemes in Germany. The institute focused on a realistic mapping of the extent to which individual eco-schemes are likely to be used and how they will affect farmers' incomes. The study was commissioned by the German Ministry of Agriculture. Various agricultural structures were included in the study, both in crop and livestock production. The assessed eco-schemes also included crop rotation on arable land (cultivation of at least five different main crops will be required, each main crop should account for a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 30% of arable land, the share of legumes should be at least 10%, cereals can be grown on a maximum of 66% of the land, maize and millet are excluded). According to the results of the institute, the introduction of a requirement to expand the set-aside area would have significant economic impacts. According to the results, in intensive livestock farming, strengthening the area temporarily set aside would increase costs by between €500 and €1000 per hectare, given the need to strengthen feed purchases and secure manure exports. The study also looked at the effects of shifting away from the use of plant protection products. According to the results, the largest reduction in yields, at 40-50%, could be expected for intensive crops of rape, sugar beet and potatoes. Yields can be expected to fall by 35-40% for most winter cereals, 30% for legumes and 15-20% for oats and maize.
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The COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference takes place from 31/10/2021 to 12/11/2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. Among the topics discussed during this year's event are deforestation and methane reduction, and the global transformation towards sustainable food systems is given insufficient space, according to the participating organizations. Beyond the planned agenda, however, the European Commission's proposal to introduce a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism was discussed. The European Union and the United States concluded an agreement on 17/09/2021 with a commitment to reduce methane emissions in all sectors by at least 30% by the end of 2030, compared to 2020 levels. On this occasion, the European Union has decided to support the work of a new UN body (the International Observatory on Methane Emissions), which aims to manage global measures to reduce methane emissions. However, the Union is the only group that has supported the initiative, for example, neither the US nor Japan have yet fully committed themselves to it. According to European media, this raises the question of the extent to which the US is committed to meeting the 30% reduction commitment. However, more than 100 countries supported the commitment to achieve a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 during the conference. In the area of deforestation, more than 100 countries have also committed themselves to halting and reversing deforestation by 2030, and a FACT plan has been presented to address deforestation through sustainable global trade in agricultural commodities. However, some organizations, including the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, have criticized the failure to include the issue of global transformation to sustainable food systems on the conference agenda. Representatives of Europe's largest agricultural organization - Copa and Cogeca, also spoke at the conference, stressing that farmers need additional tools and support to alleviate the costs they must bear in the fight against climate change. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Commission would push for a tax on imports of certain commodities in relation to their carbon footprint. However, the Union will focus primarily on motivating third countries to introduce similar carbon policies at national level to promote the decarbonisation of their economies.
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Last week, Spanish Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzón announced plans by the Spanish government to implement a new decree banning junk food and beverage as soon as possible in 2022. The decree will cover advertising aimed at children under the age of 16 to prevent childhood obesity and overweight. Advertising restrictions will apply to certain television channels during certain hours of the day before and after children's programs, and will also apply to advertisements in print media, radio, cinemas, social networks, and mobile applications. The ministry has identified several product groups, regardless of their composition, that should not be advertised to children. These include chocolate and sweet confectionery, energy bars, sweet toppings and desserts, cakes and biscuits, juices and energy drinks, and ice cream. In addition, the ban also applies to all products with additives that exceed the nutritional limits for sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
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