A comprehensive study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) involving 156 countries has uncovered staggering hidden costs within global agrifood systems, which amount to approximately $12 trillion annually. The study, announced on Friday, emphasizes that a significant 70% of this cost—equating to $8.1 trillion—is linked to unhealthy dietary patterns, which are directly associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This figure far surpasses the hidden costs related to environmental degradation and social inequalities.
The FAO’s research highlights how the hidden costs are primarily driven by health-related factors, followed by environmental costs. These costs are especially prominent in the more industrialized agrifood systems of upper-middle- and high-income countries.
The study identifies 13 dietary risk factors contributing to these health costs, such as insufficient intake of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, excessive sodium consumption, and a high intake of red and processed meats. These dietary patterns show considerable variation across different agrifood systems worldwide.
To better understand these complexities, the study introduces a typology that categorizes agrifood systems into six distinct groups: protracted crisis, traditional, expanding, diversifying, formalizing, and industrial. This framework provides a targeted approach to understanding the specific challenges and opportunities within each system, enabling the development of more tailored policies and interventions to address these issues.
Among the health risks, high sodium intake is a major concern, showing an increasing trend as agrifood systems evolve from traditional to formalizing systems, peaking in the latter. Interestingly, sodium intake then begins to decrease in industrial systems. On the other hand, the consumption of processed and red meat consistently rises across all stages, from traditional to industrial systems, becoming one of the top three dietary risks.
This study serves as a call to action for policymakers and global health organizations to address the significant health and environmental costs associated with current agrifood practices, underscoring the need for urgent reforms in global food systems.
