Food production for both plants and animals has various impacts on the environment such as land and water usage, greenhouse gas emissions, loss of biodiversity and pollution of water systems.
At school, we’re taught that cows give off methane which is bad for the planet. However, as part of a living ‘cycle’, livestock grazing stimulates plant growth, which stimulates photosynthesis, which increases the transfer of atmospheric CO2 into soils.
Scientific evidence shows optimal grazing systems are highly regenerative and sustainable food production systems as they capture substantial carbon, build bio-diversity, improve soil health and resilience to climatic extremes.
Doesn’t reducing animal-based foods mean a cleaner planet?
Studies show that if everyone in the United States eliminated all animal-based foods, US emissions would decrease by a miniscule 2.6%, and nutrient deficiencies would increase.
Reducing livestock would have little effect on net global GFC emissions or could increase emissions due to their role in increasing soil carbon capture. Food waste accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions – nearly as much as road transport (9%) and more than direct global emissions from livestock (5%).
Restricting animal diets wrongfully distracts from the highest environmental priority, the burning of fossil fuels, which is responsible for 64% of global GHG emissions.
Technology now exists that allows us to produce food in a more sustainable way and better animal food systems play a critical role. Governments and the Private Sector need to promote the rapid uptake of these innovations. Various National farming groups are setting aggressive targets for reducing their environmental footprint and these goals are being supported at a global level.
How do animals play a role in delivering environmental and biodiversity benefits?
70% of global agricultural land is only suitable for grazing and is the largest source of biodiversity. Livestock convert otherwise unusable plant material to high quality nutrient dense human food – supplying 25% of total protein and 15% of human energy needs.
Livestock also play an important role in converting otherwise ‘waste’ food from crop residues and by-products of food manufacture into high quality nutrient dense protein for human consumption. This cycle is a crucial part of global food production.
Technologies such as genetic selection of plants and animals with enhanced traits, carbon capture in soils, improved grazing management, smart water management, precision agriculture, disease detections and management and renewable energy sources are just some of the innovative solutions offering real environmental benefits.
Meat provides irreplaceable nutrition with an efficient environmental footprint and proven track record of improvement in protecting natural resources. The reduction or elimination of livestock will further destroy our soils and make agriculture unfeasible without petroleum inputs.
Keywords: human diet, evolution, anthropology, nutrition history.
Is eating meat really bad for you, and bad for the planet?
The arguments against eating meat in favour of eating plant-based foods sound pretty persuasive on the surface: to be healthier and to save the planet, right? But if we dig deeper, is it really that black and white?
How should I eat for nutritional health? Animal vs plants?
Whilst ultra-processed animal replacement foods can substitute, they are not environmentally superior or of directly equivalent nutritional value to real animal foods.
How should I eat for planetary health?
As we learn more through science, our ability to produce food improves – in terms of the product, and the impact on our environment.
