In terms of sustainability, the negative effects of changing temperatures and precipitation on
agricultural production, food security, and undernutrition in developing countries has been described as
the largest single negative impact of climate change on global health.7
Livestock accounts for most of
agriculture's climate footprint, with industrial beef production generating significantly more greenhouse
gases (GHGs)/per grams of protein produced than plant-based alternatives (soy, wheat) as well as
certain fish and fowl.8
There is also growing diversion of plant-based cereals/protein sources to livestock production – roughly
one-third of the world's cereal harvest in 2005 was fed to livestock.
9
Yet, animal-sourced foods are also
an essential source of income, food security, and essential proteins and micronutrients for many of the
world's poor.
Global trends point to many synergies or points of convergence between policies that support more
sustainable food production and health-oriented aims of reducing obesity and malnutrition as well as
hunger. While the potential for improving health in association with sustainable agriculture may appear
substantial, food systems are highly complex. In this context, health-related indicators can provide a
robust measure of the extent to which sustainable development policies yield optimal benefits for
health, development, and environmental sustainability.