There is increasing evidence to suggest that an overall shift in global dietary patterns is necessary to support human and planetary health. The EAT-Lancet Commission Report, published in 2019, was a herculean and bold effort to synthesize knowledge and evidence from multiple disciplines and make policy recommendations. Concluding that “Transformation to healthy diets from sustainable food systems is necessary to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement…” and that this transformation will require substantial dietary shifts including “a greater than 50% reduction in global consumption of unhealthy foods, such as red meat and sugar, and a greater than 100% increase in consumption of plant-based foods, such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, and legumes,” the report generated rapid responses from both academics and non-academics on next steps to respond to the changes suggested in the EAT-Lancet report.

Food sustains human life. Yet the sustainability of producing sufficient healthy food for the world’s growing population is threatened by climate change, which in turn is affected by the food system. The EAT-Lancet Commission brought together 37 world-leading scientists in an attempt to integrate and synthesize scientific evidence, knowledge and paradigms from multiple fields to address this urgent issue. Since its publication, both public and private sectors have begun efforts to promote plant-based diets. At the same time, the feasibility of the recommendations of the Commission has been questioned. Of particular concern is the impact of the recommendations on the nutritional status of women and children in low-income countries. At the same time, the literature on social determinants of health suggest the effects of climate change may widen health disparities.

This collection seeks to advance knowledge about the sustainability of plant-based diets for human and planetary health by supporting thoughtful discussion of diverse perspectives from multiple disciplines with the goal of achieving health equity for all humans on our planet.

We welcome original research articles, research briefs, reviews and commentaries on the health and environmental impact of plant-based diets. Examples of topics of interest include:

• The feasibility of shifting institutional menus to include more plant-based items

• Environmental sustainability of innovative interventions to promote healthy eating

• Coordinating the activities of multiple stakeholders of the food system to achieve health equity

• The impact of new vegan food products on human and planetary health

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Frontiers in Public Health

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