Can Sustainable Food Systems Help Save the Planet?

This post comes to PBS Nature from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Views and opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of THIRTEEN Productions LLC/The WNET Group.

My journey began in the lush rainforests of Borneo, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. There, as the founder and leader of a non-government organization, I worked closely with the Wehea Dayak people to protect the biodiversity-rich Wehea Forest. While I was initially focused on the survival of the many endangered species found in the forest, like orangutans, clouded leopards, and the previously thought extinct Miller’s Grizzled Langur, it became clear that the root of the environmental challenges faced in the region often led back to food.

WWF’s Brent Loken in the Wehea Forest © Brent Loken

In Kalimantan, forests were being cleared to make way for palm oil plantations, which not only threatened biodiversity but also disrupted the traditional diets and cultural practices of the Dayak people. As their diverse food gardens, which supplied healthy food for most of the year, were replaced by oil palm, the diets of the Wehea Dayak shifted toward inexpensive, ultra-processed, store-bought foods that ultimately impacted their health.

Conversations with the Dayak often centered on food and its deep cultural importance rather than the more abstract concepts of forest or orangutan conservation. Ceremonies, discussions, and even the planting and harvesting of rice all centered on food. It was in these experiences, over several years, I came to realize that food was not only a main factor in environmental degradation and ill-health for the Wehea Dayak, but it also held the potential to drive conservation efforts. By connecting food systems with the health of forests, endangered species, and the community, we could work together to achieve shared conservation goals. This realization inspired me to refocus my efforts on transforming food systems as a means of protecting both nature and human well-being.

Wehea Dayak woman husking rice. © Brent Loken

So, what exactly is “food system transformation,” and why is it so crucial to conservation? Simply put, food system transformation involves reshaping the way we produce, distribute, and consume food on a global scale. The goal is to create a system that not only provides healthy and nutritious food to everyone on the planet but does so in a way that restores and protects the environment. Right now, our food system is the main driver of environmental degradation and ill-health. We produce enough food to feed the world, yet 10% of people go to bed hungry, and nearly a third lack access to or cannot afford a healthy diet.

Changing this requires a massive overhaul of how we think about food—from what we grow to what we eat to what we waste. On a personal level, my work has profoundly influenced my own food choices. I’ve embraced a flexitarian lifestyle, following a planet-based diet as much as possible. This diet focuses on increasing plant-based foods while allowing for moderate consumption of animal products. The idea isn’t to shame people into giving up certain foods but to inspire a shift towards healthier, more sustainable eating habits. After all, what we eat is one of the most significant actions we can take to improve our health and reduce our environmental footprint.

At a broader level, transforming food systems means huge shifts toward nature-positive production practices that restore biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage production of a diversity of healthy foods. However, food systems are inherently local, rooted in the cultural heritage and values of each country and solutions will therefore differ by country and local contexts. These place-based solutions that will deliver the biggest wins for people and the planet in the shortest time are highlighted in the recent report Solving the Great Food Puzzle: Place-Based Solutions to Help Scale National Action.

Moreover, shifting diets toward a flexitarian diet and reducing food waste are critical components of this transformation. Dietary shifts can decrease the pressure to convert more lush rainforests, such as those in Borneo. Globally, we waste between 30 to 40% of the food we produce each year. Imagine the environmental benefits if everyone ate a more healthy and environmentally friendly diet and cut their waste in half by 2030. This would go a long way toward helping to fight climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, and improve health.

Looking forward, I am very optimistic about the future of food systems. It’s possible that we can all enjoy a world where everyone has access to healthy, nutritious food, where non-communicable diseases linked to poor diets disappear, and where food production becomes the backbone of a thriving and healthy planet. It’s a future where food is fresh, colorful, and diverse, and where farms contribute to the well-being of both people and the environment.

Transforming food systems is mission-critical—not just for conservation but for the future of humanity.

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