The 2025 report by the EAT–Lancet Commission on Healthy, Sustainable and Just Food Systems, launched during the EAT Forum in Stockholm, has renewed global attention on the urgent need to overhaul the way the world produces, consumes, and values food.
Building on the landmark 2019 Planetary Health Diet, the new report integrates updated science and stronger calls for action. It stresses that global food systems sit at the center of today’s biggest challenges feeding a growing population, protecting the planet, and ensuring fairness across the food chain.
The commission however recommends a comprehensive transformation that goes beyond dietary shifts. It calls for reducing food waste, redirecting agricultural subsidies toward healthier and more sustainable foods, and rewarding farmers who adopt eco-friendly practices.
A key revelation in the report is the inequity in food-related environmental impact: the wealthiest 30 percent of the global population are responsible for roughly 70 percent of food-driven environmental damage.
For African countries like Nigeria, the report’s findings are particularly relevant. The continent continues to face a double burden of malnutrition and undernutrition while farmers struggle with the worsening impacts of climate change.
The commission further maintained that investing in local food production, especially in fruits, vegetables, and pulses—can make nutritious diets both affordable and accessible.
It further calls for policies that align agriculture, nutrition, and climate action to create “triple wins” for health, livelihoods, and the environment, particularly benefiting smallholder farmers and women who form the backbone of Africa’s food systems.
The report estimates that US$200–$500 billion per year will be needed to steer global food systems toward a healthy and sustainable future.
However, it cautions that financing alone will not suffice; political will, inclusive policymaking, and cultural sensitivity will be critical to success.
Beyond the report, the EAT Forum featured dynamic side events that translated principles into action. Sessions such as “Food Systems Transformation – Putting Principles into Practical Action” hosted by GIZ, and “Food Cultures – A Driver for Sustainable and Healthy Food” hosted by FORMAT, brought together global and regional experts to discuss implementation strategies.
The GIZ session focused on turning theory into measurable progress, emphasizing nutrition, consumer behavior, and locally driven solutions as key pillars of transformation. GIZ highlighted its partner-centric approach, which prioritizes collaboration with local actors to ensure sustainable and context-specific outcomes.
Other sessions—like “The 3Cs of Dietary Shifts: Culture, Commerce, and Consumer,” hosted by GAIN, and “Advancing Planetary Health Through Innovation in K–12 Education” by Villar’s Institute—showcased how innovation, education, and cultural awareness can accelerate the shift toward sustainable food systems.
The EAT–Lancet 2025 report serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for the future. It challenges governments, businesses, and citizens alike to rethink the value of food, not just as a commodity, but as a shared responsibility for human and planetary health.
