资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

The agro-food system perturbs the nitrogen (N) cycle through itsNloads to the environment. The present study focused on food-related consumer-levelNloads in Japan from 1961-2015, with a particular focus on food loss and protein overconsumption. Gender and age differences were also analyzed. Consumer-level food loss was negligible until the 1970s, when it began to slowly increase, accounting for an average of 13.2% of the annual net supply during 2011-2015. Japanese people have consumed more protein than the World Health Organization's recommended intake since 1961. Protein overconsumption increased until the mid-1990s, when it began to decrease, but it still accounted for an average of 32.3% of total annual protein consumption during 2011-2015. The national mean of foodNfootprints (total release of reactiveNinto the environment related to individual food consumption) in the same period was 18.3 kg N capita(-1) yr(-1), of which food loss accounted for4% and protein overconsumption for 37%. The foodNfootprint of each sex/age class varied from 16.0-21.6 kg N capita(-1) yr(-1), males had a larger footprint in each age class. Seven scenarios to reduce theNfootprints were evaluated; a scenario that included halving protein overconsumption, livestock meat consumption, and food loss was estimated to reduce the foodNfootprint by 31%. Thus, there is room for reducing consumer-inducedNloads to the environment. Campaigns aimed at boosting healthy and environmentally friendly diets should consider the diverse consumption patterns of different sex and age classes.