Assessing Environmental Hotspots and Sustainable Development Goal Alignment in Food Production in India
S U Parvathy1, Vysakh Kani Kolil1, Krishnashree Achuthan1
1Center for Cybersecurity Systems and Networks Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kollam Kerala India.
Food Science & Nutrition
|July 21, 2025
Summary
Reducing environmental impacts of food consumption in India is possible through dietary shifts. Increasing consumption of millets and sorghum can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Nutritional Science
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Global food systems face environmental risks due to unsustainable practices.
- Assessing environmental impacts of food consumption is crucial for sustainability.
- India's food system requires evaluation for environmental performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate the environmental impacts of commonly consumed Indian food items.
- To identify environmental hotspots in the food life cycle within India.
- To propose dietary shifts for reduced environmental footprint and enhanced nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Production-focused Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach.
- Analysis of eighteen representative food products across five categories.
- Characterization of impacts like greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water consumption, and biodiversity loss.
Main Results:
- Identified key environmental hotspots in the Indian food system.
- Quantified environmental impacts per capita for various food products.
- Scenario analysis indicated potential environmental impact reductions of 62%-79% through dietary shifts.
Conclusions:
- Dietary choices significantly influence environmental sustainability in India.
- Increasing consumption of millets and sorghum offers substantial environmental benefits.
- Policy interventions and sustainable agriculture are vital for sustainable food systems and nutrition.
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