A global plan for food and the future
By 2050, everyone on Earth could have enough nutritious and culturally familiar food while protecting the environment. That is the vision of the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets From Sustainable Food Systems.
The report says a “planetary health diet,” combined with better farming methods and less food waste, could feed 9.6 billion people sustainably. Over 35 countries contributed to the findings, which show that global food-related emissions could drop by more than half if nations cooperate.
Currently, food production, processing, and transport generate about 30% of greenhouse gases. Most of the rest come from burning fossil fuels and clearing forests for farmland.
What eating for the planet means
The planetary health diet centers on fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. It allows moderate portions of meat and dairy but limits added sugar, salt, and saturated fats. “This is a diet that protects both people and the planet,” said Dr. Walter Willett from Harvard University.
He recommends one serving of dairy and one serving of animal protein a day — such as fish, poultry, eggs, or meat. Red meat, like beef or pork, should be limited to one 4-ounce serving per week. “It’s not restrictive,” Willett said. “It’s similar to the Mediterranean diet — healthy, diverse, and sustainable.”
Beyond food choices
Commission co-chair Johan Rockström, who leads the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said changing diets is just one part of the solution. “We must also reduce food waste and adopt sustainable land and water management,” he said. “Healthy food must be affordable and available for everyone.”
Pushback from powerful industries
The first EAT-Lancet report in 2019 estimated that a global shift to the planetary health diet could prevent 11.6 million premature deaths annually. The new 2025 update now projects 15 million fewer early deaths each year. In the United States, about 31% of premature adult deaths could be avoided.
Transforming food systems could also save $5 trillion per year by cutting health costs, restoring nature, and limiting climate damage. The required investment — between $200 and $500 billion — is small compared to the potential savings.
Still, the report has faced strong resistance. In 2019, social media campaigns like #YestoMeat spread misinformation about the research. “We see the same patterns returning,” Rockström said. “It’s part of the broader denial of climate science.”
Willett pointed to the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which promotes meat-heavy diets and minimizes livestock’s role in global warming. “Our work relies on independent science,” Willett said. “It’s transparent and based on global evidence.”
What happens if nothing changes
If food production continues as it is, greenhouse gas emissions could rise by 33% by 2050. Nearly 70% of the planet’s ecosystems have already lost more than half of their natural areas, mostly due to agriculture.
By contrast, adopting the planetary health diet could reduce food-related emissions by 60% compared with 2020 levels. Cattle numbers would fall by 26%, freeing up 11% of global grazing land. “That would help stop deforestation in the Amazon,” Willett said. “We’re still clearing forests to grow feed for animals, and that must end.”
Meanwhile, aquatic food production could rise by 46%. Vegetables could increase by 42%, fruits by 61%, nuts by 172%, and legumes by 187%. Overall, food prices could decline by about 3%.
Building a fair and sustainable food system
Christina Hicks from Lancaster University said the world’s richest 30% cause over 70% of all food-related environmental impacts. Fewer than 1% of people currently meet their food needs without harming nature.
To change this, the commission recommends shifting subsidies away from meat and dairy and toward sustainable crops like legumes, fruits, and grains. Governments could also tax foods high in sugar, salt, or saturated fats and require clear warning labels. “We must make healthy food both affordable and accessible,” said Line Gordon of the Stockholm Resilience Centre.
Willett added that many traditional plant-based diets already align with the planetary health principles. “We’re not prescribing one global menu,” he said. “This approach celebrates cultural diversity and supports every region in eating well while protecting the Earth.”
