Industry responds to EAT-Lancet Commission report

The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission’s report states that a dietary shift will be required globally by 2050. The researchers said that consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts should more than double globally. However, they also said that red meat and sugar consumption should be reduced by more than 50%, especially in high-consumption countries.

They also proposed a ‘planetary health diet’, which is largely plant-based diet but can optionally include modest amounts of fish, meat and dairy foods, to be introduced globally. 

The report also presents five strategies which, if taken together, would enable the food system to meet both health and environmental goals. The scientists said, among other things, that if UK consumers (or policy nudges) shift toward more plant-based diets, demand for fruit, vegetables, legumes, pulses, nuts and grains might increase.

Another recommendation is to close yield gaps (i.e. bring lower-yielding areas closer to potential) while minimising environmental harm. For British farmers, this suggests opportunities for productivity gain — but the challenge is doing so in an environmentally sustainable way (without heavy inputs that cause pollution).

The researchers said intensification must be a “sustainable intensification”, not just more input use. This will require investment (technology, R&D, infrastructure) and may favour larger or better-capitalised farms more able to absorb the costs.

Halving food loss is also a key strategy. For producers, this means improving harvest techniques, storage, cold chain, handling, sorting, grading, transport and packaging. Losses in the field or just post-harvest can erode profitability and environmental credentials.

The report also emphasises no expansion into natural ecosystems. For the UK, agricultural land is limited; converting marginal land into nature, restoring degraded land, or setting aside conservation areas may become more common/favoured.

For farmers, this could mean balancing production with habitat conservation, more agroforestry, buffer strips, rewilding edges, or gaining payments for ecosystem services or biodiversity credits.

The report also warns that farmers adopting new systems will need financial and technical support (transition costs, infrastructure). Without policy support, smaller farms might struggle. Retailers and consumers are set to play a big role, as if consumers do not adopt healthy diets or are price-sensitive, farms focusing on “healthier crops” may face demand risk.

‘It’s all about balance and moderation’

NFU president Tom Bradshaw commented on the report: “The British farming industry is recognised as one of the most efficient and sustainable on the planet; one that is committed to producing food to high environmental and animal welfare standards and continually innovating to improve efficiency, enhance biodiversity, manage soil health and reduce emissions across all farming sectors. 

“We have some of the most sustainable livestock and dairy systems in the world – our cattle are fed predominantly grass-based diets, and we carefully manage our grasslands to store huge amounts of carbon. The result is that UK beef production emissions are at half the global average, dairy more so, and agriculture is responsible for just 11% of UK greenhouse gas emissions.  

“And when it comes to healthy, sustainable diets, we believe in empowering people to make informed decisions about what they choose to eat. It’s all about balance and moderation and looking for homegrown food – whether it’s red meat, eggs and dairy, fruit, veg, cereals or legumes that provide valuable nutrients like protein, iron and vitamin B12.” 

However, Mr Bradshaw highlighted that producing food is becoming harder due to the current geopolitical tensions and vulnerability of global food supply chains, alongside an unpredictable climate and extreme weather.  

Farmers’ confidence also remains low, with deep uncertainty due to price volatility, the future of environmental schemes and changes to inheritance tax. 

“Despite this, there are huge growth opportunities, particularly due to a growing global population. We need the government to back British farming and, as the EAT-Lancet report lays out, demonstrate greater cross-departmental collaboration to deliver co-ordinated policies that will help build resilience, profitability and productivity in the farming sector and allow farmers to invest. 

“In turn, we can continue to produce more sustainable, climate-friendly food for the nation and to export around the world, food that is nutritious and affordable, meets our domestic environmental targets and delivers for national food security,” the NFU president concluded. 

‘One-size-fits-all approach to diet does not work’

Researchers said the dietary shift by 2050 will include more than doubling the consumption of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, and a greater than 50% reduction in global consumption of less healthy foods such as added sugars and red meat.

‘However, some populations worldwide depend on agropastoral livelihoods and animal protein from livestock,’ they wrote. ‘In addition, many populations continue to face significant burdens of undernutrition, and obtaining adequate quantities of micronutrients from plant-source foods alone can be difficult.  

‘Given these considerations, the role of animal-source foods in people’s diets must be carefully considered in each context and within local and regional realities.’ 

Quality Meat Scotland said that blanket messaging to cut back on red meat is not appropriate for Scotland and risks worsening already poor diets by limiting vital nutrient intake. 

QMS chairwoman, Kate Rowell, highlighted Scottish farming’s progress and potential in providing healthy, sustainable food for our growing population: “Our responsible agricultural sector is a critical enabler in achieving a healthy population and planet and will continue to play its part in addressing our climate and nature challenges. 

“Food production and food security are inseparable and, as global demand for nutritious protein is rising year-on-year from a growing population, there is great opportunity for the Scottish farming sector. People will continue to eat red meat as part of a healthy balanced diet, so building producer confidence and support in countries such as Scotland which has high-efficiency and lower-emissions is critical.”

Ms Rowell said that QMS agrees with many of the opportunities identified for a livestock sector transition such as gains through efficiency and technology, responsible land management, better farming practices, animal welfare and management of food waste.

“We are pleased that the full carbon balance of agriculture – coupling emissions reductions with soil sequestration – has been acknowledged in the report. Farming delivers multiple environmental goods from its carbon removal potential to grazing animals promoting soil health and biodiversity.     

“Another welcomed addition is the focus on social justice and everyone having the right to food, a healthy environment, and decent work. Our red meat sector adds £2.8 billion to the Scottish economy, supporting around 50,000 jobs across the supply chain in some of our most rural areas.

“The reality is that the vast majority (85%) of Scotland’s land cannot be used for cereal, fruit or vegetable production, making livestock grazing the principle viable and secure option for our society and economy. The high welfare and standards behind our Scotch brands directly drive more efficient red meat production, helping to keep our red meat available, affordable and lower-emission. 

“The vast majority of our population eats meat and there has been no real recorded shift in consumption of red meat since the 2019 report. However, more public discourse on red meat reduction is confusing and detracts attention away from more damaging environmental and health factors.  

“By working together and recognising efficient producers at a country-level, we can progress towards healthy, sustainable and just food systems,” she concluded. 

‘Our climate means we can produce red meat and dairy sustainably’

Kate Arthur, head of nutrition at AHDB, said that the Eat Lancet 2.0 continues the important discussion about improving the health of the global population and the planet.

“For the UK we need to focus on helping people transition to a dietary pattern in line with our current food-based dietary recommendations represented in the Eatwell Guide.

“This is a balanced diet, rich in plant-rich foods but importantly includes meat and dairy. If people were to follow this dietary pattern, we would see improvements in both health as well as a 30% reduction in emissions.”

Yet in the UK less than 1% of the population follow the Eatwell Guide recommendations, so a greater focus on encouraging better adherence is a public health priority, she added.

“Animal-sourced foods, including lean red meat and dairy, play a central role in providing nutrient-rich, affordable, and culturally relevant options in the UK diet,” Ms Arthur concluded.

Chris Gooderham, environment director at AHDB, added: “It’s good to see the Eat Lancet report stresses the need to remain within planetary boundaries when it comes to food production. In the UK, our climate means we can produce red meat and dairy sustainably.

“That puts the UK in a great position to be part of the solution by supporting global emissions reductions through exporting more UK products to overseas markets as a more sustainable alternative, especially for countries where local meat and dairy production is more environmentally intensive.”

Mr Gooderham said that when proposing reduction to red meat and dairy intake for environmental reasons it is important to remember that well-managed livestock farming systems do not just provide food, they can offer key environmental benefits for the planet, such as carbon storage, habitat management and improved soil health, which support the UK’s net zero ambitions. 

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