A global survey, commissioned by the National Geographic Society, has revealed that around the world diets are gradually getting better. However, the society, one of the largest non-profit science and education institutions in the world, which publishes the magazine of the same name, warned that our diets are still unsustainable.

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The survey also revealed that consumers feel that they lack adequate information and influence to make food more sustainable. In the West, researchers found more entrenched attitudes and resistance to change in the least sustainable countries.  

Consumers in 18 countries around the world – including the UK – were consulted for the Greendex survey, compiled by GlobeScan. The 2014 survey is the fifth such study since 2008. In addition to food choices, participants were asked about energy consumption and conservation, transport, knowledge of environmental issues, amongst other things.

India placed first in the 2014 Greendex; the country has retained pole position since the first survey six years ago. According to National Geographic, India came out way ahead of the pack once again due for the most part to "culturally dictated eating habits."

Almost a quarter of the population of India is vegetarian and those that aren’t tend not to eat beef – which carries the largest environmental footprint. The survey also found that food imports into India have reduced and Indians are eating more organic and locally sourced food.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, those in sparsely populated countries were shown to eat most locally. Of all the countries studied, consumers in Russia ate most locally produced food.

Of the European countries featured in the Greendex survey, Germany and Spain (thanks to a significant improvement from 2012) performed best, with Britain and France trailing.  

The inquiry revealed that consumers in most countries don’t feel empowered to influence how their food is produced, and researchers said political will has not been brought to bear in driving sustainable food production.

More detailed information is available from National Geographic