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Growing Health - Why Agriculture is Vital to the Health of People and the Planet

26 Pages Posted: 30 Mar 2022

See all articles by Rosemary Green

Rosemary Green

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Population Health

Pauline Scheelbeek

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Population Health

Soledad Cuevas

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Pete Smith

University of Aberdeen

Alan D. Dangour

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - Public Health Nutrition Unit

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Abstract

The development of agriculture and broader food systems capable of providing a sufficient and stable supply of foods is directly linked with the growth of human civilizations and the general improvement of global health. However, as countries have become richer, transitions in food systems have led to an explosion of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Notwithstanding major developments in practice, the expansion and intensification of agriculture has also had impacts on multiple environmental outcomes including greenhouse gas emissions, water availability and biodiversity. Using data on global food supply we explore the association of four dominant food system types that supply diverse patterns of foods at the national level with nutrition-related disease burdens and environmental footprints. Our analysis demonstrates that while many countries with modern agricultural systems (typically in high income countries) have food system types associated with high disease burdens and environmental footprints, alternative food system types exist and could be the blueprint for transitions to sustainable and healthy futures. However, the ability of agriculture to meet growing demands from population growth and dietary transitions in the face of future environmental changes, including rising global temperatures and reduced water availability, is a major unanswered question. Projected environmental changes will have significant impacts on agricultural productivity without substantial further investment in climateresilient agriculture, and current food trade is increasing global vulnerability to food insecurity. We analyse patterns of current global food trade and demonstrate an alarming reliance of global food supply on food production in climate vulnerable countries. We argue that better quantification of the links between the environment, food systems and health at a national level is required to ensure that agriculture can respond to future environmental change and retain its role as a major contributor to global health.

Funding: This study was supported by a Wellcome Trust (grant number: 210794/Z/18/Z), and forms part of the Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems (SHEFS) programme supported by the Wellcome Trust's Our Planet, Our Health programme [grant number: 205200/Z/16/Z].

Declaration of Interest: None to declare.

Keywords: food systems, Nutrition, planetary health, Global Health

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Suggested Citation

Green, Rosemary and Scheelbeek, Pauline and Cuevas, Soledad and Smith, Pete and Dangour, Alan D., Growing Health - Why Agriculture is Vital to the Health of People and the Planet. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4042679 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4042679

Rosemary Green (Contact Author)

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Population Health ( email )

London
United Kingdom

Pauline Scheelbeek

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - Department of Population Health ( email )

Soledad Cuevas

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( email )

Keppel Street
London, WC1E 7HT
United Kingdom

Pete Smith

University of Aberdeen ( email )

Dunbar Street
Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3QY
United Kingdom

Alan D. Dangour

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - Public Health Nutrition Unit ( email )

Department of Epidemiology and Population Health
Bedford Square 49-51
WC1B 3DP
United Kingdom

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