The Mediterranean Diet as a Model for Sustainability, Health, and Cultural Resilience in a Changing World

Associated Press

31-01-2025

Sara Roversi (Future Food Institute), Supports and Affirms the Mediterranean Diet as a Sustainable and Resilient Model
'The Mediterranean Diet is not a relic of the past but a living model of sustainability, health and cultural resilience that must be safeguarded and transferred to future generations.' — Sara Roversi, President - Future Food Institute; Paideia Campus.
POLLICA, ITALY, January 31, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / -- Sara Roversi, founder of Future Food Institute, reaffirm the Mediterranean Diet (MD) as a living, evolving model of sustainable food systems, cultural heritage, and public health. This statement comes in response to recent discussions, including the Politico article 'The Mediterranean Diet is a Lie,' which questioned its relevance and authenticity in modern society.
A Science-Backed, Sustainable Food Model
UNESCO recognizes the Mediterranean Diet as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, and it is widely supported by scientific research as one of the most effective dietary patterns for promoting longevity, biodiversity, and lower environmental impact.
Recent studies show that adherence to the MD is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular diseases, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and increased protection of local food biodiversity. Italy, a key Mediterranean Diet country, leads Europe in organic farming, with over 64,000 certified organic producers, and its agricultural sector emits 46% less CO₂ than the EU average—highlighting its sustainability compared to industrialized food systems.
Despite these well-documented benefits, the original article attempts to instrumentalize selective data points without considering the broader systemic perspective—one that has consistently demonstrated significant large-scale impacts in health, environmental sustainability, and cultural resilience.
Addressing the Real Challenge: A Shift in Lifestyles
While critiques point to rising obesity rates in Mediterranean countries, research confirms that the issue is not with the Mediterranean Diet itself, but with how modern societies have drifted away from its principles.
Changes in lifestyle—such as reduced physical activity, increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, and the decline of traditional meal-sharing practices—have led to lower adherence to the MD. Despite this, Italy remains a leader in fruit and vegetable consumption and has some of the lowest levels of sugary drink intake in Europe, proving that the MD is not disappearing but rather being neglected.
A Global Response: Revitalizing the Mediterranean Diet
To counter this trend, Paideia Campus in Pollica, home to the Permanent Secretariat of the UNESCO Network of Mediterranean Diet Communities, is actively working with the Future Food Institute to promote educational programs and policy initiatives that revive and adapt the Mediterranean Diet's core values.
The MD aligns with key global sustainability and health priorities, including:
✔ Climate Action – A diet with a significantly lower carbon footprint than industrialized Western diets.
✔ Biodiversity & Food Sovereignty – Promotion of regenerative agriculture and traditional, local food systems.
✔ Public Health – Strong scientific support for its role in disease prevention and longevity.
✔ Cultural & Community Preservation – Encouraging social cohesion through shared meals and intergenerational knowledge exchange.
Future Food Institute's Commitment
The Future Food Institute remains committed to ensuring that the Mediterranean Diet continues to serve as a scientifically validated, culturally rich, and environmentally sustainable model for future generations.
In Pollica, the Center of Studies on Mediterranean Diet 'Angelo Vassallo,' serving as the Secretariat of the UNESCO Network of Mediterranean Diet Communities, is working alongside Paideia Campus by Future Food Institute to revive the true meaning of the Mediterranean Diet—educating future generations on its role as a sustainable, resilient, and holistic approach to food, health, and ecology.
The Mediterranean Diet is Not Dead—It's Our Responsibility to Keep It Alive
Roversi's article calls for a shift in perspective: instead of fueling cynicism and skepticism, efforts should be directed toward revitalizing and protecting the Mediterranean Diet's core values.
'The Mediterranean Diet is not a lie, nor is it dead. It is a living system that adapts, regenerates, and inspires. The real challenge is not to deconstruct or dismiss it, but to safeguard and strengthen its principles for future generations,' Roversi concludes.
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