Food sustainability in a context of inequality: changes in meat consumption in Brazil (2008-2017)

Authors: Mariana Hase Ueta, Jennifer Tanaka, Dirce Maria Lobo Marchioni, Eliseu Verly Jr, Aline Martins de Carvalho

Published: 2023

Publishing House: Environment, Development & Sustainability

ISBN: 1387-585X

Language: English

This article focuses on meat consumption in Brazil, one of the countries where it takes on a strong cultural value, even though its production is associated with significant environmental impacts.

In particular, it is analyzed in relation to the food inequalities that occur in Brazil, as in many other South American countries. Using household budget survey data from 2008 and 2017, meat intake and its price was estimated according to income level. It was stated that although meat consumption increased by 12 percent over the time period considered, individuals with lower incomes are not included in the change. For example, the latter spent about 17 times more of their income to buy one kilogram of meat than those in the highest income bracket. This reveals economic inequality in access to meat, a key component of the Brazilian diet.

Moreover, in 2017, meat contributed86 percent of the carbon footprint of the Brazilian diet, underscoring the importance of also considering the environmental impacts due to dietary choices. In fact, in Brazil, deforestation of the Amazon is closely related to theexpansion of the meat industry and thus the space needed useful for raising. Methane emissions from cattle ranches and increased water demand also exacerbate the picture.

Three strategies have been developed to address these issues: implementing income support policies, promoting nutrition education campaigns that encourage more sustainable food choices, offering incentives for the production of meat substitutes, and implementing stricter regulations in the meat industry.

The complexity of the Brazilian case reflects the national and local realities of Latin America and the Global South, which are often overlooked in research on sustainable diets, predominantly focused on the Global North. Thus, it is hoped that more studies in Latin America and the Global South will provide better perspectives on food sustainability.