Fourteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

Transformation to sustainable food systems is no longer optional but required to stay within our planetary boundaries and meet global health goals. Dietary transitions to less and better animal source foods can simultaneously benefit food systems health, environmental, justice, and ethical outcomes. Diets are inherently culturally and socially meditated, and any adjustments for sustainability must also negotiate socio-cultural consumption spaces. We build upon conceptual sustainability framings of consumption corridors (minimum and maximum levels negotiating trade-offs among dimensions) and sufficiency (centering ‘enoughness’ as an end and means) in relation to much-contested animal source food consumption levels. We held focus groups exploring understandings of sufficiency in dietary intake of animal source foods as they relate to socio-cultural preferences of Finnish citizens. Focus groups were participant-led co-creation sessions centered around what ecologically and culturally sufficient diets would mean for Finland in 2050. We added quantitative ecological production limits and normative goals and intents in plausible futures of farmed animal food systems to the focus group results. Here we present how participants negotiated ecological boundaries reducing current diet environmental impacts by 50%, adhered to health and nutrition recommendations for dietary requirements, while considering cultural values, practices, and norms. The outcome allowed us to design eco-culturally sufficient diets as a concept, practice, and ethos. Participant discussions on required changes to personal practices and larger societal transformations offer us guidance on how to put eco-culturally sufficient diets into practice. These findings contribute to larger understanding of a sustainable niche for farmed animals in future food systems.