What the Research Says

Research from the past few years indicate the detrimental effects of the meat industry on our planet. A 2019 study published by the Journal of Science showed that only 18% of calories produced come from the meat and dairy industry, yet it uses 83% of farmland and produces 60% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Guardian, this study analyzed 40,000 farms in 119 countries as well as 40 food products that comprise 90% of what individuals consume.  

Joseph Poore, the lead researcher of this project, says, ““A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use,” However, not everyone agrees that veganism and vegetarianism  are the solution to all of earth’s agricultural and sustainability issues.  

Frank Mitloehner, an animal scientist from the University of California, criticizes the vilification of the agricultural industry considering that fossil fuels are the leader in carbon emissions according to the EPA. While this is a strong argument, it doesn’t account for the aspects such as land and water use that also contribute to the unsustainable nature of the meat and dairy industry when compared to other agricultural practices.  

Moreover, there are other effects that aren’t immediately apparent, such as deforestation to create more pastures and the resources expended to create livestock feed. According to the Good Food Institute, around 40% of cropland, fertilizer, and irrigation water in the United States is used to make animal feed. Then, the feed must be transported to pastures to be consumed, and only a fraction of the calories consumed by these animals is converted into muscle tissue used to feed humans.  

So, what is being done and what immediate actions can consumers take today to be more sustainable? 

First, we can look at regenerative agriculture, a set of farming principles and practices that “increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystem services”. This includes no-till farming, holistic grazing, composting, and much more. Specifically, with the cattle industry, regenerative beef production entails rotating the cattle between many pastures to prevent overgrazing. However, most beef isn’t produced this way because consumers aren’t aware of this distinction and because it affects the bottom line.  

Thus, consumers can start by educating themselves about acquiring sustainably grown meat. While it is not accessible to everyone, especially those who live in food deserts, starting the conversation about sustainability in the agricultural industry is just as important as eating sustainability. The only way large, impactful change will occur with current farming practices is with either the mobilization of a large part of the market (which in turn forces producers to modify their products to appeal to the population) or legislative change, which typically relies on popular support anyway.  

And then there’s the controversial solution of converting to a plant-based diet. While critics says it is disproportionally credited with greenhouse gas emissions, it is something we can all do today because most of us have agency over what we eat regularly.  

I do recognize that this solution is overly optimistic, idyllic, and very “kumbaya”, but I also believe that baby steps towards a diet with no, or at least less, is something everyone should try. This BBC article explores meat consumption around the world, and it is no surprise the United States tops the list, with the average person consuming nearly 120kg of meat annually.  

Other developed countries have drastically lower meat consumption per person, so it is possible for Americans to lower this number if they wanted to.  

However, the overarching opponent to a plant-based diet, I believe, is the attitude surrounding meat and food in the United States. If we think about the quintessential American foods, hamburgers, hotdogs, steak, and chicken wings come to mind.  

Connection Between Food and Culture

Food and meat are a large part of our culture, and as a result, we have identities attached to it. Whether it is our favorite homecooked meal from our childhood or the turkey we make for Thanksgiving, food is intrinsically tied to our emotions and memories. Moreover, eating plant-based is seen as deprivation to many. In Catholicism, members don’t eat meat on Fridays as a form of “abstinence”, as meat is associated with feasts and celebrations.  

Overall, the world would benefit from decreased meat consumption, though it is unrealistic to eliminate it completely from the global diet. We as consumers begin to educate ourselves and seek actionable solutions to the issue of sustainability if we want to leave mark – not our carbon footprint – on earth.