New Delhi, October 24 (IANS). A report has revealed that apart from limiting food wastage and giving preference to vegetarian food, the eating habits of Indians can help in combating global climate change.
The recently released Living Planet Report of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has revealed that the cuisine adopted by Indians is the most climate-friendly among the G20 countries.
Shravani Mali, consumer analyst at data analytics company GlobalData, said India has seen growing public awareness of vegetarian food in recent years, especially in metros.
Mali said, “The country's current food consumption patterns emphasize plant-based diets and climate-friendly crops, such as millet. These require fewer resources and have lower emissions than meat-oriented diets, making this change sustainable.” But it is also linked to broader attention.”
Citing a recent consumer survey conducted by GlobalData, Mali said 79 per cent of Indians said sustainable or eco-friendly features are essential when purchasing food and beverages.
“The traditional Indian diet mainly consists of pulses, grains and vegetables,” Mali said. These traditional diets, with an emphasis on seasonal and local produce, are becoming more popular as well as drawing more attention to environmental issues. “As a result, with increasing awareness, consumers will hope to reduce the environmental burden by adopting traditional dietary practices that prioritize plant-based foods.”
Deepak Nautiyal, consumer and retail commercial director, Asia-Pacific and Middle East at GlobalData, lauded the government for launching several initiatives to promote environmentally sustainable practices in the country.
He cited the National Millet Campaign and International Year of Millets (2023) campaigns launched by the government to promote the production and consumption of millets. Millet is an environmentally sustainable source of food and nutrition.
Additionally, the National Sustainable Agriculture Mission also aims to improve climate resilient farming.
Mali said adopting climate-friendly diets, especially the eating habits of Indians, could prove vital in addressing global environmental and health challenges.
–IANS
MKS/CBT
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