When entering a discussion concerning different lifestyles, especially related to dietary decisions, there are so many different opinions because no two people have the identical circumstances. This makes it a very controversial subject; one person’s eating habits may not be reasonable or strategic for another person. Whether or not a person’s diet is directed by socioeconomic status, religion, or personal preference, there are too many elements of every day life that factor in to what we put into our bodies.
One set of reasoning that often divides people is how specific eating patterns effect the environment. While the website may be a bit biased, an article on veganoutreach.org discusses the research compiled in a UN report, including how veganism and vegetarianism leave smaller carbon footprints on the earth than carnivorous diets.
The first element that is observed is how livestock produces an alarming amount of greenhouse gases. With methane and ammonia being pumped into the atmosphere as a direct result of these farms, acidification of our planet is just accelerating. Approximately 15-18% of all greenhouse gases are traced back to these animal ranches. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, one cow can produce ~120 pounds of waste per day. When calculating how much total waste is accumulated by a single dairy farm, every cow counts for 20-40 people’s worth of waste.
Livestock, like any other living organism, also need food and water to stay alive and grow. An overwhelming majority of all agricultural animals are used for either their flesh or their lactic byproducts. Cheese, milk, beef, eggs, poultry, and pork can all be harvested. The size of the animals is of great importance, too, for obvious reasons. This then means that, without synthetic hormones and medications, the animals must be fed well to allow for optimal growth. This redirects water and feed crops to animals, for the sole purpose of feeding humans. If humans were able to cut major animal products out of their diets, 8% of human water use would be cut. This is all without accounting for how much water is polluted by the system of animal farming. The runoff from these livestock sectors is full of excrement, antibiotics, hormones, chemicals, fertilizers, and other pesticides. This leads to the contamination of nearby water sources, and disrupts entire ecosystems. The new term “Dead Zone” has been coined to identify the coastal areas that have been affected by such pollution.
Another related factor is the degradation of land that results from livestock and other animal production. An astonishing example of how severe this problem can become is seen throughout Latin America. In Latin America, 70% of all of the Amazonian forest area has been replaced by agriculture-related pastures. After all, all of the contaminants that flood into our water sources are also being leached into surrounding soil. Strong soil can be stripped of its nutrients, rendering once-arable land to mere dirt. If the soil is harmed, then logically so are its abilities to naturally produce. This leads to an aggressive attack on biodiversity. The circle of life is just that – a chain. If one part of the chain is kinked in order to serve humans, then it makes sense that the other parts of the chain will slowly disintegrate, as well.
From a related website , the article (https://www.downtoearth.org/go-veggie/environment/top-10-reasonson )downtoearth.org discusses how animal-based diets in general are a clear source of waste and environmental degradation.
First of all, mapping out the lifetime of our food can help clarify how many excess resources are put into eating animal by products. Yes, food grown directly from the ground requires water, energy, and usually (and unfortunately) fertilizer. However, the calories from these foods enter a human’s body just as they are. If these plants are used to nourish animals, their caloric impact is depleted by 10%. This is studied through a graph called an “Energy Flow”. The sun’s energy feeds producers, producers feed primary consumers, primary consumers feed secondary consumers, and the tertiary consumers are the last element in the flow. In each step, 90% of the total energy from the prior source is lost to growth, heat, and reproduction. As dense as this information may be, it exemplifies how we feed animals with more calories than are extracted in the end. This creates a massive waste of calories. With an increasing population, and a decreasing amount of fertile land, this may become a prominent crisis in the near future. After all, as the article points out, agricultural cattle alone are the most damaging non-human species due to their high resource intake. By transitioning to a plant-based diet, rich with natural sugars, carbohydrates, and fiber, a human can reduce their ecological footprint by 2/3.
I think it is interesting how interconnected the entire biosphere is. It challenges the concept that Anthropocene is not relevant to climate change. Every decision made, from the way we get to work, to what foods we put on the table, has an external effect on another element of the world. The eating pattern of humans is an integral part of our world – food and water are our primary objectives of existence. This makes every human equally responsible for protecting our earth.
Anecdote: My mother became vegan when I was in middle school, so growing up I was exposed to a semi-vegan diet. This experience was able to shed light on both the intense benefits and difficulties with plant-based diets. While eating was cheaper in general, we found ourselves having to eat more throughout the day than compared to a meat-filled diet. In order to satisfy appropriate iron and protein levels, you must eat an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and starches. We experienced heightened energy levels, but at the same time, it was difficult to go out and eat in social settings. My family had to go grocery shopping every few days, as fruits and vegetables do not stay fresh for long. The gas alone on these trips probably spiked our greenhouse gas emission. While I still eat meat and other animal byproducts, it is never by choice. I began to crave fruits and vegetables (carbohydrate-rich foods), rather than high protein or high fat foods. This is what sparked my interest in this topic, and it is in no way a judgment on any person’s dietary habits. I completely understand that every person has the right to choose what goes into his/her body.
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