Our world is on the brink of an unprecedented food challenge: the global population is slated to reach 10 billion people by 2050. Our food supply and agricultural practices will need to transform significantly in order to feed people on this scale.
Did you know that 75% of the global food supply comes from just 12 plants and 5 animal species? Further, 60% of calories consumed worldwide come from just THREE foods: rice, maize, and wheat! Such narrow diets do not adequately support good health. Not to mention that putting all of our eggs into one proverbial basket puts us at risk of food shortages due to the effects of a disease, climate change, and geopolitical events. Monoculture farming also depletes soil, making it more vulnerable to pests and pathogens.
Adding to the conundrum, developed nations depend heavily on animal products in their diets. These products, including meat, milk, and eggs, exact a heavy toll on the environment via land and water use, greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
Clearly, it’s time for a change. And that’s where Future 50 Foods come into play. Food and nutrition experts from the WWF, Knorr, and Sodexo came together to identify 50 foods to drive this imperative change to a more sustainable food supply. The foods on the list are biodiverse, nutrient-dense, environmentally friendly, culturally diverse and, of course, full of good flavors. On March 5, we will be featuring several of these foods in the Murray Student Center Dining Hall during lunch. We hope you’ll join us and taste the future of food for yourself!
-Registered Dietitian & Sports Nutritionist, Marie Murphy
