Would a shift to agroecological systems change dairy products' role in meeting human nutritional needs?
Abstract
An important lever for tackling environmental challenges is the agroecological transition of livestock farms, including dairy farms. However, very few studies have examined the possible impact of this transition on the contribution of dairy products to meeting human nutritional requirements.
The aim of this study was to characterize the evolution of the population reference intake (PRI) coverage by dairy products in France, when transitioning from conventional corn-based systems to organic grass-based systems. The calculation of the contribution of dairy products to PRI coverage was based on French consumption data, on the concentration of nutrients in dairy products according to the farming systems, and on the nutritional recommendations from the European Food Safety Authority and World Health Organization.
The transition from conventional corn-based systems to organic grass-based systems would have no major impact on the contribution of dairy products to PRI coverage for linoleic acid, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc and vitamins E, B2 and B12. On the other hand, this change would triple PRI coverage for α-linolenic acid and the sum of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). However, dairy products would contribute twice as much to the intake of trans fatty acids, making it more challenging to not exceed the maximum recommended intake. In addition, this transition would not substantially alter the contribution of dairy products for saturated fatty acids.
This approach will continue with the integration of other vitamins and oligo-minerals and will be extended to other animal-based products, such as beef and poultry, using systems ranging from conventional to agroecological.
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