From Field to Plate: Fifty Years of Plant-Based Food Production and Emerging Risks to Planetary and Women's Health

Maria Julia Miele^1*Priscila Coltri²Camila Soares¹Renato T Souza¹Jose G Cecatti¹Barbara Teruel¹

• ¹State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
• ²Center for Meteorological and Climatic Research Applied to Agriculture, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil

Planetary health is a comprehensive approach that reveals the complex interconnections between sustainable human and environmental balance. This concept is rooted in the understanding that the health and progress of human civilization depend on thriving natural systems and their preservation. However, the profound impact of plant-based foods on both human and planetary health remains underestimated. Diet has the power to shape present health and compromise the future of entire generations. This study analyzed 48 years , of trends in Brazilian agricultural production, focusing on plant-based foods, and their potential risks to the environment and the health of women of reproductive age, a particularly vulnerable population. Using national databases, we explored the associations between food production and consumption patterns within this demographic. Although rice and beans have traditionally been the foundation of Brazilian diets, in terms of production volume, Brazilian women's plates would be dominated by soy and sugarcane. Our findings suggest that plant-based diets represent a disruptive concept that requires careful revision, given the high contamination by toxic chemical residues in soil, water, and humans. Beyond nutrient-based public policies, food management -from field to plate -must integrate food security to ensure healthy and sustainable food system.