Acquiring insights into the sustainability of future diets
MADE Student Project
Our current food practices cause numerous environmental, social, cultural, and economic externalities. Yet while the challenges arise in these seemingly different dimensions, the solutions to finding a sustainable diet, might be found in the interplay between them. Striking a balance between components of the food system to ensure a future sustainable diet requires a tangible framework as a starting point. This research developed scenarios using expert interviews to draft future food acquisition practices for the city of Amsterdam in 2050. By employing and expanding upon the DESTEP methodology, a glimpse of the future lifestyle practices, system of provision, and food acquisition arose. Seven trends were drafted, which are expected to affect future food acquisition practices significantly. 1) A dichotomy in society between those well-off and those badly-off, 2) a potential increase in plant-based food consumption, 3) a dichotomy in society regarding food orientation, with on the one hand those seeking convenience while a growing number of people look the context behind the food they eat, 4) robotization, 5) water and nutrient scarcity, 6) an increased awareness by governments as to what people eat, and lastly, 7) the ongoing battle for space within the city. The different scenarios point out that the government's role can significantly affect how the future pans out.
Image credits
Header image: Food Pixabay.png
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