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An international report finds that global food systems contribute to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, while almost half the world’s population lacks access to healthy diets.
The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission suggests that adopting a plant-rich ‘Planetary Health Diet’, cutting food waste in half, and shifting to sustainable farming could feed growing populations, ease pressure on the planet, and reduce rates of chronic diseases.
The All Ireland Science Media Centre asked local experts to comment on the report.
Dr Anne Mullen, Lecturer in Nutrition Security and Sustainable Food Systems, University of Galway, comments:
General commentary:
“Global food systems – the complex web of actions and actors that bring our food from farm to fork – are now responsible for about a third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, are a leading cause of biodiversity loss and environmental pollution globally, and we also have intractable problems of micronutrient deficiencies, obesity and food poverty. Contemporary global food systems urgent need attention.”
“Our food systems bring joy, health, security and prosperity to many. Countries have their own food character and cultures celebrate unique food traditions, and many of us rely on food systems for our livelihoods – so a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t intuitively seem right when it comes to food systems change. But we can’t ignore that we’re part of a global food system now with benefits and burdens distributed across the world – and, in its entirety, our food systems are causing damage to the environment, population health, equity and fairness across global communities. We need to act now – and we can do something about it. EAT-Lancet firmly opened a dialogue for solutions in 2019.
“The first EAT-Lancet report, published in 2019, was a landmark publication. The authors maybe didn’t always get the messaging perfect, but they should be applauded for spearheading the concept that fixing our food systems is a solution space with multiple benefits for people and the planet. In fact, transformative action in our food systems is acknowledged at the UN level as having potential to accelerate progress on the off-track SDGs.”
“Many questions arising from the last EAT Lancet 1.0 related to justice and equity. They included whether the benefits of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water footprints from global adoption of the PHD were evenly spread across the world, whether the diet was affordable for everyone, whether the diet was nutritionally adequate for those at risk of micronutrient deficiencies, and whether it was indeed feasible at all. Additionally, the term plant-based diet has been widely misunderstood as vegetarian or vegan, and many plant-based alternatives to animal source foods that have recently been marketed have uncertainty around their nutritional benefits, healthfulness and environmental credentials.
“This time round, EAT Lancet 2.0 doubles down with its agenda for human and planetary health – providing a high level of robust science to support the PHD. The adoption of this diet will remain controversial, no doubt, in terms of its feasibility. But the report hits really strong notes in addressing some of the previous criticisms. It includes a much-needed focus on justice and human rights related to food systems, clarity on the nature of plant-based foods, and emphasis on the importance of food environments that promote healthy diets.”
What does this mean for Ireland?
“Overall, the dietary recommendations here are similar to the original EAT Lancet. In terms of the Irish diet, the dairy recommendation isn’t dissimilar from current intakes in Ireland, but these are below what our food-based dietary guidelines recommend. In terms of meat consumption, the recommendation is much lower than current intakes in Ireland, and this will be a big challenge to resolve. The PHD remains a relatively difficult diet to implement – the Irish diet also falls short across a range of plant foods that the EAT Lancet diet promotes.
“The focus on justice and healthy food environments is critical for the Irish context. The right to decent work is a key component of the justice model of EAT Lancet 2.0, and this right is relevant to the food producers and food workers of our country. The right to food, and the right to a healthy environment applies to consumers in Ireland – and it could be argued that the food environments our consumers are exposed to current erode those rights.
“In Ireland, and internationally, we focus a lot on the environmental and economic drivers and impacts on food systems. These are highly quantitative and, though challenging to act on, they are relatively easy to measure. Social indicators of sustainability are much harder to pin down, but they are probably foundational to actual change happening and being sustained. EAT Lancet 2.0 speaks loudly to social sustainability with its emphasis on justice, decency of work, and protecting tradition in our diets.”
Professor Eileen Gibney, Director of University College Dublin Institute of Food and Health, and Co-Director of the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, comments:
“The 2025 EAT-Lancet report builds on the initial report published in 2019. In this version they focus on the broader societal impact of food production, and consumption, setting specific food planetary boundaries to ensure we can produce the food required for the growing global population in a sustainable manner. As before the planetary health diet focuses on a plant rich diet, but more fully recognizes the need for variation and acceptability in different population groups and global regions. The report recognizes the challenge this places on our primary producers, and the shift that would be needed. To achieve the change required it sets out an action plan which notes the need for change not just at production level, but a need for total societal change. In addition, this version also focuses on a fair and just food system from soil to society – where the right to food, a healthy environment, and decent working environment are met. The distribution of these actions and responsibilities across society will be key to successful food system transformation. No one solution or one actor can provide the changes required. This is something we all need to embrace and change across the food system will mean we can meet this challenge.”
Note: Eileen is attending the launch of the 2025 EAT-Lancet report in Stockholm this week.
Professor Aedin Cassidy, Chair in Nutrition & Preventive Medicine, Queens University Belfast, and Co-Director of the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, comments:
“What we eat plays a critical role in the prevention of ill-health and the interconnections between food production, what we eat and the environment have never been more evident. The latest 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission report presents an evidence-based approach on how to achieve the transition to healthy diets from sustainable sources.
“Food is the single strongest lever to optimise human health and environmental sustainability. The EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet (a plant-rich diet that also includes moderate intakes of animal foods), in combination with more sustainable food production processes and reduced food waste, would significantly improve public health (preventing approximately 15 million premature deaths each year could be achieved) whilst protecting our planet.
“Our Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, a collaboration of 16 institutions across Ireland and UK (funded by Research Ireland, UKRI and DAERA) is in place at a crucial time to address many of the inter-connected problems our food system faces. We are conducting inter-disciplinary research to develop evidence-based solutions to accelerate the transition towards a more environmentally and economically sustainable, transparent agri-food sector to end hunger, improve human health and protect the environment.
“A ‘one-size-fits-all approach’ will not work, and our Co-Centre will address pressing issues in Ireland and the UK to accelerate the transition to achieving affordable healthy diets from sustainable sources. We are excited to be in a position to address many of the urgent issues, relevant to Ireland and the UK, presented in the EAT Lancet report.”
Professor Janas Harrington, Chair of the Cork Food Policy Council and Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, University College Cork, comments:
“The Cork Food Policy Council welcomes the publication of the new 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission report, recognising it as a critical, science-driven call to action for transforming food systems. Its focus on promoting healthier lives, addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, and advancing social justice resonates strongly with Ireland’s food environment. For a nation where farming, food production, and rural communities are central to identity and livelihood, the Commission’s findings underline both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Ireland.
“The Commission’s focus on the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) and its robust evidence that healthy, sustainable diets can prevent millions of premature deaths every year aligns closely with the vision and goals of the Cork Food Policy Council of a resilient, sustainable, and healthier inclusive food environment that enables everyone to learn about growing, cooking and enjoying good food.
“Building a sustainable, healthy, and just food system requires coordinated action at every level. The Cork Food Policy Council urges national policymakers to use the 2025 EAT-Lancet framework as the foundation for an ambitious and inclusive Irish Food and Nutrition Strategy. This should look beyond dietary guidelines to tackle systemic food environment challenges—marketing of food products to children, CAP reform, fair pricing for food growers, land use planning for food growing, investment in regenerative agriculture, and stronger rural-urban connections. Reframing national dietary guidelines through the lens of health and climate science is vital—but must be coupled with systemic initiatives that support growers, producers, retailers, food workers, and communities.”
Extended commentary from Professor Harrington on behalf of the Cork Food Policy Council is available here, including insights from the Cork Food Strategy Consultation.
Declarations of interest:
Professor Eileen Gibney: “No conflicts. The Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Funded by Research Ireland (RI), Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).”
Professor Aedin Cassidy: “I have received funding from the US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) with oversight from USDA for clinical trials and population-based research and act as an advisor to the USHBC grant committee.”
Professor Janas Harrington: None
Dr Anne Mullen: “Anne Mullen is a Lecturer in Nutrition Security and Sustainable Food Systems at the University of Galway. Anne is Co-Lead of the Agriculture, Food Systems and Bioeconomy Research Centre of the Ryan Institute, and a member of Safefood’s Scientific Advisory Committee. Anne was the Director of Nutrition for the Dairy Council for Great Britain (2014 to 2018), Chief Editor of Nature Food (2019 to 2023). Views here are her own, and do not necessarily represent those of her current or former employers.”