Joshi Nidhi, Raghuvanshi Rita Singh
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar- 263145, Uttarakhand, India.
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Community Science, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Udham Singh Nagar- 263145, Uttarakhand, India.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Mar 1;967:178781. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178781. Epub 2025 Feb 13.
Agriculture is one of the major contributors to India's environmental footprint. The climatic impacts of Indian diets will likely increase due to the rising population, urbanization, and dietary transition. Assessment of multiple environmental indicators related to diet and sociological drivers has not been well studied in the Indian context. Therefore, we aim to quantify the environmental footprints of Indian diets and to identify the socio-demographic predictors. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey among 930 Indian adults (≥18 years) based on convenience sampling. Dietary data collected through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were matched with India-specific footprint data to quantify dietary greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, green and blue water footprints (WF), and land use footprints. Multiple linear regression was run to identify socio-demographic predictors of dietary environmental footprints. The mean GHG emissions, green and blue WFs, and land use footprints of diets were 4.42 kgCO-eq/day, 3.94 m/day, 0.84 m/day, and 9.0 m/day, respectively. Dairy and fats & oils accounted for the largest share of dietary GHG emissions and land use footprints, respectively. Processed foods (baked, fried, preserved products, beverages, drinks) were the highest contributor to dietary green and blue WF. Gender, age, marital status, occupation, caste, religion, number of children or adolescents in the family, and region were significant predictors of dietary environmental footprints. The environmental footprint of current diets was 40-48 % higher than national dietary guidelines. Dietary diversification with the inclusion of millet, reduction in dairy and processed food intake, shifting to dietary guidelines, and targeted inventions among various social groups will pave the way towards the sustainability of Indian diets.
农业是印度环境足迹的主要贡献者之一。由于人口增长、城市化和饮食转变，印度饮食的气候影响可能会增加。在印度背景下，尚未对与饮食和社会驱动因素相关的多个环境指标进行充分研究。因此，我们旨在量化印度饮食的环境足迹，并确定社会人口统计学预测因素。我们基于便利抽样对930名印度成年人（≥18岁）进行了在线横断面调查。通过半定量食物频率问卷收集的饮食数据与印度特定的足迹数据相匹配，以量化饮食中的温室气体（GHG）排放、绿水和蓝水足迹（WF）以及土地利用足迹。进行多元线性回归以确定饮食环境足迹的社会人口统计学预测因素。饮食的平均温室气体排放量、绿水和蓝水足迹以及土地利用足迹分别为4.42千克二氧化碳当量/天、3.94立方米/天、0.84立方米/天和9.0平方米/天。乳制品和油脂分别在饮食温室气体排放和土地利用足迹中占最大份额。加工食品（烘焙、油炸、腌制产品、饮料、饮品）是饮食中绿水和蓝水足迹的最大贡献者。性别、年龄、婚姻状况、职业、种姓、宗教、家庭中儿童或青少年的数量以及地区是饮食环境足迹的重要预测因素。当前饮食的环境足迹比国家饮食指南高出40-48%。通过纳入小米实现饮食多样化、减少乳制品和加工食品的摄入量、转向遵循饮食指南以及在不同社会群体中进行有针对性的干预，将为印度饮食的可持续性铺平道路。
