China and changing food trends: A sustainability transition perspective
Introduction. Global population has witnessed significant changes in the way food is produced and consumed. Although this has benefitted population health, it has also contributed to climate change and unsustainable use of natural resources. Materials and methods. Сomprehensive literature review...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
2022
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ufj.ho.ua/Archiv/UKRAINIAN%20FOOD%20JOURNAL%202022%20V.11%20Is.1.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/88777 |
| Summary: | Introduction. Global population has witnessed significant changes in
the way food is produced and consumed. Although this has benefitted
population health, it has also contributed to climate change and
unsustainable use of natural resources.
Materials and methods. Сomprehensive literature review.
Results and discussion. The characteristics of four transition theories
related to food are outlined to help explain population behaviour, namely
demographic, nutrition/protein, food and sustainability transition. This is
followed by a further desktop analysis of the changes occurring in China,
the world’s largest demography, and this country’s contribution to a mostneeded
global sustainability transition.
The theoretical framework of transition theories used since the mid-
20th century outlines changes in population behaviour impacting
relationships between people and more recently with the natural
environment. As a multidisciplinary field describing fundamental shifts in
human societies, transition theories are very insightful in relation to food
and nutrition. The demographic transition links industrialisation with
fertility and mortality rates but also with food availability. During the
nutrition transition, a change occurs in people’s calorie intakes from
different food groups. While the share of protein remains relatively stable,
the initial transition from plant- to animal-based foods now changes in
reverse with increasing ecological and health awareness. This
nutrition/protein transition can result in a better dietary behaviour with
reduction in over-consumption, losses and waste. The food transition
explains the transformations on the supply side – how food is produced,
processed and distributed, reflecting changes in agricultural methods, use
of land, soil, water, fertilisers and chemicals, supply and distribution chains.
More sustainable farming methods are currently being introduced in
response to ecologically threatening trends as a result of land-use changes
and use of chemicals. As distinct from the other concepts, sustainability
transition does not describe an evolutionary pattern of changes but only the
current most necessary transformation in development. It requires radical
transformation and action towards reduced environmental footprints of all
human activities, including food.
China’s development has experienced similar transitions although with
unique features. Its demographic transition has been influenced by the “one
child policy” while the nutrition/protein transition has been fuelled by
increasing income levels. Industrialisation of food production with
application of chemicals is widespread but more recently, organic methods
of farming are gaining momentum. Food security and production are
recognised as a challenge and opportunity in China’s sustainability
transition with state-driven dietary efforts to contain domestic meat
consumption.
Conclusion. China has the opportunity to play a prominent role in the
global transition to improved food choices, as required by the current
environment and climate emergency, by shifting its own eating habits and
also contributing to the burgeoning field of new alternatives to livestock
products. |
|---|