Eating healthy or wasting less? Reducing resource footprints of food consumption

Abstract To feed future populations on ever-scarcer natural resources, policy initiatives aim to decrease resource footprints of food consumption. While adopting healthier diets has shown great potential reduce footprints, current political primarily address strategies waste, with the target halving waste at retail and consumption levels by 2030. Using Germany as a case study, we compare resource-saving this three scenarios nutritionally viable, plant-based dietary patterns investigate interactions trade-offs. By using Food Agriculture Biomass Input–Output model, capture biomass, cropland, blue water global supply chains. The results show that changes are particularly effective in reducing biomass cropland showing up 61% 48%, respectively, whereas decreases 11% 15%, respectively. For savings, is more effective: use 14% compared an increase 6% for change highest Subsequently, combination shows total reduction potential. However, our findings reveal despite reduced shift can lead increased amount due rising products associated higher shares. Therefore, addressing both targets might be contradicting. We conclude international national policies most achieving efficiency exploiting potentials all available while simultaneously considering strategy interactions.