A global strategy for food and the environment
By 2050, every person could have access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food while protecting the planet. The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems outlines how a “planetary health diet” can make this possible.
The report finds that combining this diet with sustainable farming practices and reduced food waste could feed 9.6 billion people equitably. Experts from over 35 countries contributed to the research, which shows global food-related emissions could fall by more than half with coordinated action.
Today, food production, processing, and transport generate about 30% of greenhouse gases. Most of the rest come from fossil fuel use and clearing forests for agriculture.
What the planetary health diet entails
The planetary health diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. It allows moderate meat and dairy intake while limiting added sugar, salt, and saturated fats. “This diet protects both people and the planet,” said Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard University.
He recommends one daily serving of dairy and one serving of animal protein, such as fish, poultry, or eggs. Red meat, like beef and pork, should be limited to one 4-ounce serving per week. “It’s not restrictive,” Willett said. “It’s balanced, flexible, and similar to the Mediterranean diet.”
Diet alone isn’t enough
Johan Rockström, co-chair of the commission and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, stressed that changing diets is only part of the solution. “We also need to reduce food waste and adopt sustainable land and water management,” he said. “Healthy food must be affordable and accessible for everyone.”
Opposition from the meat and dairy industries
The first EAT-Lancet report in 2019 estimated that following the planetary health diet could prevent 11.6 million premature deaths each year. The 2025 update raises that estimate to 15 million. In the United States, about 31% of premature adult deaths could be avoided.
Transforming the food system could also save $5 trillion per year by reducing health costs, restoring ecosystems, and slowing climate change. The required investment — between $200 and $500 billion — is only a fraction of the potential benefits.
However, opposition has returned. Social media campaigns like #YestoMeat previously spread misinformation about the research. “We are seeing similar tactics again,” Rockström said. “It is part of broader climate denialism.”
Willett noted that the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign, led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., promotes meat-heavy diets while minimizing livestock’s impact on climate. “This report is based on independent, global scientific evidence,” he said.
The cost of inaction
If food production continues on its current path, greenhouse gas emissions could rise 33% by 2050. Nearly 70% of ecosystems have already lost more than half their natural areas, mostly due to farming.
Adopting the planetary health diet could cut emissions by 60% compared with 2020 levels. Cattle numbers would drop by 26%, freeing 11% of grazing land. “This could stop deforestation in the Amazon,” Willett said. “Forests are still cleared to grow animal feed, and that must end.”
Meanwhile, aquatic food production could rise by 46%. Vegetable output could grow 42%, fruits 61%, nuts 172%, and legumes 187%. Overall, food prices could fall by around 3%.
Steps to a fair and sustainable food system
Christina Hicks from Lancaster University said the wealthiest 30% of people cause more than 70% of all food-related environmental harm. Fewer than 1% of people meet their food needs without damaging nature.
The commission recommends shifting subsidies from meat and dairy to sustainable crops such as legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Governments could also tax foods high in sugar, salt, or saturated fats and require clear warning labels. “We must ensure healthy food is affordable and accessible,” said Line Gordon from the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Willett added that traditional plant-based diets already align with planetary health principles. “We’re not prescribing one global menu,” he said. “This approach respects cultural diversity while supporting every region to eat well and protect the Earth.”
