A global commission, with Cornell-led modelling contributions, finds food systems now damage five of nine planetary processes. The review reports that over half the world's population lacks consistent access to healthy diets and that dietary shifts could prevent about 15 million premature deaths each year. Wealthy consumers produce most food-system impacts, and the commission proposes eight interventions while cautioning that diet change must be paired with production reforms and concrete policy roadmaps.
Global Study Warns Food Systems Now Threaten 5 of 9 Planetary Processes — Experts Urge Clear Roadmaps
A global commission, with Cornell-led modelling contributions, finds food systems now damage five of nine planetary processes. The review reports that over half the world's population lacks consistent access to healthy diets and that dietary shifts could prevent about 15 million premature deaths each year. Wealthy consumers produce most food-system impacts, and the commission proposes eight interventions while cautioning that diet change must be paired with production reforms and concrete policy roadmaps.
08:07 PM, 11/12/2025Environment
Global review links food systems to damage across five planetary processes
A panel of international experts — in a Lancet-linked review informed in part by a Cornell-led modelling team — has found that current food systems exert the largest negative pressures on five of nine planetary processes that underpin Earth's stability and resilience.
The commission reports that more than half of the world’s population lacks reliable access to healthy diets, while a shift toward healthier, more sustainable diets could prevent roughly 15 million premature deaths each year. The analysis also highlights stark inequality: the wealthiest 30% of the global population accounts for about 70% of food-related environmental impacts, driven by consumption patterns, food loss and waste, and widespread unsustainable farming practices.
Eight proposed interventions
The commission outlines eight potential interventions to reduce harm and improve global diets. These include cutting food loss and waste, adopting sustainable agricultural practices, protecting traditional and regional diets, and stopping the conversion of intact ecosystems into agricultural land. The report stresses that dietary shifts can deliver large environmental and health benefits but are not sufficient on their own.
Mario Herrero, professor of global development at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said collaborative efforts such as the EAT–Lancet partnership are vital for imagining and advancing more sustainable futures.
Daniel Mason-D'Croz, senior research associate at CALS and lead of the modelling team, warned: 'If dietary change is not accompanied by improvements such as increased agricultural productivity and reduced food loss, it won't get us environmentally sustainable food systems.' He added that future work must focus on developing clear roadmaps to achieve more sustainable food-system futures.
The researchers hope their evidence will guide policymakers, businesses and civil society toward concrete strategies that reduce agriculture's large environmental footprint while improving access to healthy diets worldwide. Achieving those goals will require coordinated action across consumption, production, technology and policy.
Key facts at a glance:
- Food systems harm 5 of 9 planetary processes.
- More than 50% of people lack reliable access to healthy diets.
- Dietary shifts could avert ~15 million premature deaths annually.
- Top 30% of global consumers cause ~70% of food-related environmental impacts.
Source: Global commission review reported via The Lancet and phys.org; modelling contributions led by a Cornell team.