Every positive choice we make for the planet and ourselves is a win for humanity.
One of the most interesting environmental statistics, in my opinion, is that war is a significant contributor to climate change. In fact, global conflict is responsible for anywhere between 5.5 and 6 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions—and if global militaries were a country, it would be the fourth largest emitter planet-wide.
I find this so fascinating because when we think about ways to address the climate crisis, we typically focus on improving the impact of major industries like energy, construction, transportation, and food production. However, promoting peace is almost never part of the conversation.
But it should be! Because although this issue may not seem directly connected to the food system, making sustainable food choices can have far-reaching humanitarian benefits across the globe.
Resource Guarding
Many conflicts ultimately come down to resources. Oil, land, water, minerals, and other natural resources are finite on a planetary scale—and everyone depends on them to meet basic needs or, at the other end of the spectrum, to support a more affluent lifestyle.
How these resources became central to global conflict is somewhat rooted in the concept of the Tragedy of the Commons. This theory was first birthed in the mid 1800’s and became popularized about a century later. It highlights how all humans initially had somewhat equal access to common resources like water, foraged food, land, fish, etc. However, without regulation, individuals tend to act in their own best interest and often overexploit these resources in an unsustainable way.
Over time, these resources became commodified, and rather than preventing their overexploitation, this process fueled the economic inequalities that continue to shape the world today. Long story short: our common resources have been capitalized on as much as possible while also becoming scarce and overexploited. With this scarcity, of course, comes conflict because we all need these resources to live and thrive.
The Toll of Conventional Agriculture
When we look at food specifically, conventional agricultural practices can be incredible resource intensive. Unsustainable farming practices, such as monocropping and systems that rely heavily on agrochemicals like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, deplete the soil of both nutrients and its ability to retain water. As soil health declines, the need for fertilizers and irrigation continues to grow. Producing these agrochemicals also requires significant energy—much of it derived from fossil fuels—as well as other resource-intensive inputs. In fact, the conflict at the Strait of Hormuz has already resulted in a global fertilizer shortage.
Meanwhile, animal agriculture—particularly the production of grazing animals like cattle—is a major driver of deforestation worldwide. For example, much of the deforestation occurring in the Amazon is linked to the creation of pastureland for cattle. This is a major global concern because the Amazon is one of the world’s most important carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon and helping to regulate the global climate. As demand for beef continues to grow, so does the demand for pastureland. Even cattle that are ultimately finished in feedlots typically spend the first part of their lives grazing on pasture before transitioning to these concentrated operations.
Overfishing in both freshwater and marine ecosystems is another example of how the overexploitation of a finite natural resource can fuel conflict. Because fisheries support major global economies and provide food and livelihoods for millions of people, competition over dwindling fish stocks can become a source of tension.
Let’s also not forget the very real human costs of conventional food production: forced and child labor, unfair wages, exposure to hazardous chemicals, air pollution, and water contamination. These injustices can contribute to social unrest and deepen existing inequalities. As the impacts of climate change intensify, the communities already bearing the greatest burdens are likely to face even greater hardship, increasing the risk of social tensions, conflict, displacement from climate-related disasters, and forced migration in search of safety or economic opportunity.
Ultimately, the natural resources required to produce food are all in limited supply here on Earth. When essential resources become scarce, competition, financial pressure, and social tensions often increase, raising the risk of conflict and threatening planetary peace and stability. However, conserving natural resources and using them more sustainably can help reduce resource scarcity and lower the likelihood of conflicts driven by competition over limited supplies.
How Sustainable Food Choices Actually Move the Needle
This is where making sustainable food and nutrition choices can become a radical act of peace. Sustainable nutrition encompasses not only health and environmental impacts but also ethical and cultural considerations, creating a more holistic approach to how we produce, consume, and value food.
Sustainability-focused eating can help preserve resources, protect the humans who grow, harvest, and process our food, and ultimately improve the overall environmental landscape—helping to address the climate crisis. All of these benefits naturally result in more peaceful interactions.
For example, regenerative or circular agricultural practices promote soil health, increasing its nutrient and water-holding capacity. This means less freshwater, industrially-produced agrochemicals, and other inputs are required to produce around the same amount of food. With less scarcity around these precious resources comes less of a chance that conflict related to resource access will occur.
Reducing meat consumption and reliance on animal product-heavy diets can also save massive amounts of water, land, and agrochemical inputs while reducing local air and water pollution. Easing the pressure on these resources can help create healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities—conditions that support greater stability and peace.
Food produced through regenerative practices or under certain food certification standards can also support fair labor practices, equitable wages, the elimination of child or forced labor, and several environmental benefits. These systems are often connected to broader community-supportive programs that promote social well-being and resilience, too. These third-party verifications can even help reduce exploitation all the way up the supply chain. This promotes greater satisfaction and well-being for the people, plants, land, and communities involved in food production, naturally encouraging more peaceful ways of moving through the world.
Local and regional food systems are also a central part of the sustainable nutrition ethos. These localized systems strengthen communities, support local economies, and foster interdependence both within and among communities—all of which can contribute to greater social cohesion and reduce the likelihood of conflict over time. Supporting resilient local food systems can also help address some of the conditions that drive forced migration, which is a significant contributor to global instability.
And, of course, all of these naturally protect the environment by using less resources and emitting less greenhouse gasses. This means more common access to resources and less chance of displacement and environmental disaster-related conflict due to accelerated climate change.
Peacemaking in Action
Even though most of us have no control over what happens with international politics, I believe that promoting peace in our everyday lives trickles out in meaningful ways we may not even realize—and really make a difference.
For example, when natural spaces or resources under local government jurisdiction are at risk, connecting with neighbors through honest, heartfelt communication can be more effective in preserving those spaces than engaging in conflict. One example that comes to mind is the growing public concern around data centers. Regardless of political affiliation, community members from both sides of the aisle have come together to voice concerns about the water consumption and noise and air pollution tied to these centers. This has actually made a difference in some counties across the country, halting data center construction. In this case, peace and collaboration are among the ultimate aims of these citizens, and environmental protection is one of the key outcomes.
Enter the notion of being the positive seed—a concept that came to me during a healing journey I did back in April. The idea here is that a single source of positivity, light, or optimism—even in a sea of darkness—can have a real and tangible ripple effect. Think about when you’re walking down the street and smile at someone sporting their very best RBF—more often than not, they’ll smile back. That one moment may lead them to smile at someone else further down the road or even spark a positive thought in their mind…and the ripple begins.
I really feel this can be the case with sustainability and nutrition, too. One small (seed-sized!) action can create an incredible trickle-down effect, momentum builds, and we start to feel more hopeful about our capacity to change ourselves, our circumstances, and even larger community-based issues. All we need is just one tiny speck of light to begin tapping into that positive energy and spark meaningful action in our lives and the world. So, I encourage you to try to be the positive seed just one time this week—that could be as simple as smiling at a stranger, thinking of something you’re grateful for, or taking one extra sip of water.
Here are a few other sustainable nutrition-focused actions you can take to promote peace:
- Buy Local and Seasonal Food: A supported community is more likely to be a peaceful one…and investing in local food infrastructure safeguards your local area if supply chain-disrupting events do ever occur. My local farm stands were lifesavers during COVID, for example!
- Shop Third-Party Certified Food: Whether it be organic, regenerative, Fair Trade, Certified B Corp, Rainforest Alliance certified, or something else, many food certifications illustrate that a given food product is supporting sustainable, peace-promoting initiatives.
- Consume Meat Mindfully: Because animal agriculture is so resource-intensive, reducing your consumption—or purchasing from local, sustainability-minded producers—is a great way to reduce the sprawling impacts your food choices.
- Shop Sustainable Seafood: Even if you live in a landlocked part of the country, choosing seafood options that help prevent the overexploitation of ocean and freshwater fisheries can help safeguard these resources for generations to come. Look for terms like pole-and-line-caught, pole caught, troll-caught, and free school when shopping for ethically-produced seafood.
The Bottom Line
In general, I think it’s fair to say that many environmentalists are also advocates for peace. However, I find it especially interesting to explore why certain elements of environmentalism can actively promote peace over time.
When looking at the food system specifically, food produced through more ecologically-focused practices helps preserve resources, protect workers, safeguard natural ecosystems, and reduce reliance on resource-intensive inputs. These outcomes can naturally support greater collaboration between communities, reduce pressures associated with resource scarcity, and improve environmental health—all of which can contribute to peace. These practices may also help address some of the underlying conditions that contribute to conflict, potentially reducing the likelihood of war and the significant environmental consequences that come with it.
And peace is rad! I think it’s a core desire that we all share as humans, both internally and externally. But the animals, plants, and the planet as a whole also deserve this same level of calm and cohesion. I’m biased, but it’s pretty clear that I believe this is the way we should all strive to live here on Earth. I find it incredibly inspiring that we can move closer to this reality through sustainable food choices—and that these choices can also be more nutritious than many conventionally-produced or commercially-marketed alternatives.
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