How Portuguese Food Became the Biggest Ecological Issue the Country Faces Today

And what can be done about it

Image courtesy of author

Portugal — my adopted home — just used up all its ecological resources for the year.

The actual date was , 23 days earlier than last year. According to a report by the environmental association :

The production and consumption model that sustains the Portuguese lifestyle is responsible for the imbalance.

Harsh words. Makes it sound like the Portuguese are hedonistic animals intent on destroying the world with their nasty consumption habits.

The reality, of course, is a little more nuanced. For a start, Portugal is doing slightly better than the EU overall, whose “overshoot” day was on .

But the most interesting thing about Portugal’s overshoot day is the main reason for it.

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Food is important here. Ask any Portuguese about their food heritage and watch them get misty-eyed over pork sandwiches, sardines and salt cod. It’s identity and passion.

However, when food accounts for % of the reason why an overshoot day is only a third of the way into the year, it’s also a problem.