A recent study of significant importance was published on February 21, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elissa Cheng of the National University of Singapore and her colleagues. This study, which analysed 151 popular global dishes sourced from lists on CNN.com and TasteAtlas.com, each standardised to 825 calories, reveals that certain dishes profoundly impact biodiversity. The study’s focus on the biodiversity footprint—measuring the effects on wildlife species richness, conservation status, and habitat provides crucial insights for our understanding of the issue.
According to the findings, dishes that include Brazilian steak and Indian kidney bean curry exhibit exceptionally high biodiversity footprints. This study extends previous research which mapped the encroachment of agriculture on wildlife habitats, specifically those of birds, mammals, and amphibians. By assessing the ingredients of various dishes, the research team calculated the biodiversity footprint of each ingredient based on the agricultural land used, considering factors like species richness and conservation status in those areas.
The methodology involved aggregating the footprints of individual ingredients to produce an overall score for each dish, with variations noted depending on the source (local or global) and the farming method (industrial or small-scale). The results highlighted a trend where dishes predominantly featuring beef, chicken, legumes, and rice had the largest footprints. Among the top twenty dishes with the highest impact were several Brazilian beef dishes (picanha, churrasco, fraldinha), alongside other meat-based recipes and, notably, several vegan options such as dal, rajma, chana masala, and idli. These findings illustrate that meat-based dishes and vegetarian options from regions like the Indian subcontinent, where rice and legumes are predominantly grown industrially, have significant biodiversity impacts.
Conversely, dishes with the most minor biodiversity impacts were mainly vegetarian or vegan, starchy, and based on grains or potatoes, such as pommes frites, kartoffelpuffer, and baguettes. These findings underscore the crucial role of specific ingredients and their sources in biodiversity conservation, pointing out that consumers’ choices can significantly influence species conservation and ecosystem health.
The study also highlights certain limitations, such as not differentiating between wildlife that can adapt to cultivated environments and those that need undisturbed habitats, focusing only on mammals, birds, and amphibians. Moreover, the selection of dishes primarily from high-GDP countries might need to be more representative of global cuisine. However, the research stresses the importance of selecting ingredients conscientiously, especially those sourced from biodiversity hotspots or areas under significant human pressure. The authors advocate for small dietary changes, which could substantially help in averting species extinctions and preserving biodiversity. This emphasis on the potential for change through individual actions should inspire hope and empowerment in the audience.
More information: Elissa M. Y. Cheng et al, Biodiversity footprints of 151 popular dishes from around the world, PLoS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296492
Journal information: PLoS ONE Provided by PLOS
