Hidden Costs of Food Systems

The podcast episode discusses the significant hidden costs of the world's food system, amounting to $12.7 trillion annually, equivalent to 10% of global GDP. The analysis by the United Nations highlights that the largest part of these costs is related to health issues stemming from diets leading to obesity and non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, environmental impacts account for over 20% of these costs. Disparities exist between low-income and high-income countries, with poverty being a substantial factor in the former. The episode emphasizes the interconnectedness of these costs, with examples like cacao farming in West Africa affecting both health in Europe and farmers' livelihoods.