Is it possible to feed the planet in a healthy way while reducing the use of land and water? A study conducted by researchers from the Glob3science Lab of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano and published in Nature Sustainability, proposes a global model that makes the best use of agricultural and water resources, making the adoption of the EAT-Lancet universal reference diet a sustainable possibility.

The researchers looked at six country-specific dietary scenarios, combining an agro-hydrological model with studies into optimal use. Crop redistribution and improvements to trade flow could reduce the extent of global cropland by 37–40% and irrigation water use by 78%, while meeting the nutritional requirements of the EAT-Lancet diet.