Sustainable food systems lifts millions out of malnutrition

According to Deloitte’s report, Turning Point: Feeding the World Sustainably, transforming the global food system is essential to feed a growing population and combat climate change. Currently, 730 million people suffer from malnutrition, while food production must increase by 40% by 2070 to provide sufficient calories for ten billion people.

A turning point towards a sustainable future

Deloitte outlines five key solutions to create a sustainable food system:

• Accelerate innovation and productivity improvements.
• Invest in protecting, restoring, and enhancing natural capital, such as land, soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, and ecosystem services, to boost food production and security.
• Reduce global food system emissions to mitigate climate change.
• Encourage more sustainable consumer choices and diets.
• Improve circularity to minimize food waste, utilize by-products, avoid depletion of critical resources, maintain materials in circulation, and enhance efficiency.

Impact on malnutrition and climate

A sustainable food system could meet the minimum nutritional needs of 1.6 billion people and lift 300 million in vulnerable regions out of malnutrition. At the same time, food system emissions could be reduced by two-thirds, significantly contributing to global net zero goals.

Low-income countries stand to benefit the most from this transformation. Deloitte estimates these nations could achieve a 12% GDP increase and an additional 626 calories per person per day. This would not only improve food security but also strengthen the economic position of the most vulnerable regions. "This is an opportunity to address both food insecurity and climate change," said Randy Jagt of Deloitte.

Read the full report: Turning point: feeding the world sustainably