Environmental and social consequences of the increase in the demand for superfoods world-wide
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Date
2020Author
Magrach Gonzalez, A.
Sanz Sanchez, M.J.
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People and Nature (2020)
Abstract
1.The search for healthy diets has led to a surge in the demand for functional foods
or ‘superfoods’, which have now become popular among the middle- and high-
income fractions of the society in developed regions of the world. ‘Superfoods’
are predominantly consumed far from their centres of origin and out of their cul-
tural context with different environmental and social effects.
2. Here, we present a series of case studies to provide an overview of the different
environmental impacts driven by superfood expansion.
3. We show that if these crops are to follow the path of other global commodities,
then strong environmental impacts and large carbon footprints are expected in
terms of land clearing, use of agrochemicals and transportation during times of
high prices (boom) and social problems as farmers have to abandon their liveli-
hoods when prices sink below the cost of production (bust).
4. We also showcase how a combination of management practices, consumer choices
and policy changes could help in alleviating the ecological footprint of these crops.