We Need A More Sustainable Food System. What That Means & How To Help

Short answer: no. For years our modern food system has valued quantity over quality, which has snowballed into standardized practices that don't nourish our longevity or the planet's. From food waste to soil erosion to the regular use of pesticides and harmful chemicals, a more sustainable food system sits at the top of our collective to-do list. But what does that actually look like? And more importantly: How can we each make a difference? Well, the solution might be easier than you think, and it starts with what you choose to eat. 

There are a lot of components of a sustainable food system—but one of the simplest is eating more fruits and veggies (FNV). As it stands, 14.5% of the greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans is related to global livestock, i.e., eating meat. That doesn't mean we all have to go vegan, but a 2018 study1 confirmed that eating more FNV is associated with a lower environmental impact. Just by eating more plants, we can reduce our carbon footprint by a third2! From all angles, a sustainable food system involves a fruit-'n'-veggie-centric diet. Daily Harvest has recognized this truth and made it easy to do exactly that.

Many of the greatest challenges embedded within our modern food system originate on the farm, where short-term agricultural gains are creating long-term problems. For example, chemical fertilizers and pesticides may yield more output, but they can also be toxic to humans3 and harm our soil for future harvest. And industrial agriculture may feed higher numbers via commodity grains like maize, corn, and wheat—but these "cereal crops" are not the nourishing foods our bodies need. On top of that, small farms (which make up 72% of all farms) are gradually disappearing, in part because of corporate agriculture's initiatives to produce at scale.

Thus, a more sustainable food system also starts on the farm, which is exactly why healthy soil, synthetic-free crops, and empowered farmers are at the heart of Daily Harvest's every decision. Sustainable farming practices hold a lot of promise, not just for our individual health, but the planet's. Here are a few of them:

Cover cropping: This natural process entails planting for the sake of covering the soil, versus harvesting. Cover crops have been proven to benefit soil health, increase crop yield, and control pests and diseases naturally.

Organic pest control: Organic farming uses natural pesticides4 like animal byproducts or mined minerals instead of synthetic chemicals like glyphosate. This doesn't just support the health of our soil, it means fewer chemicals making their way into our food, water, and bodies. Beneficial not just for us, but for the people who grow our food and surrounding communities.