A recent article in Science Magazine highlights a study
showing a vegan diet is the best for lowering hunger rates and protecting the
environment:
showing a vegan diet is the best for lowering hunger rates and protecting the
environment:
[R]esearchers ran hundreds of food production simulations
under different conditions—like organic versus high-yield farming, and
plant-based versus meat-based diets. They recorded whether each
combination of strategies was “feasible—whether enough food could be produced
to feed the estimated 2050 world population without expanding the area of
farmland people already use.
The study showed that diet was the greatest factor. Because raising livestock takes
nearly twice as much land as raising crops, only 15 percent of scenarios including typical meat-heavy Western diets
were feasible. This conclusion even factored in use of extra fertilizer
to make the land more productive.
nearly twice as much land as raising crops, only 15 percent of scenarios including typical meat-heavy Western diets
were feasible. This conclusion even factored in use of extra fertilizer
to make the land more productive.
While the study didn’t consider trade deals, political
actions, and cultural challenges, it did show that virtually the only way we
can feed every mouth in 2050 without cutting down more forests for new farmland
is to adopt a plant-based diet.
actions, and cultural challenges, it did show that virtually the only way we
can feed every mouth in 2050 without cutting down more forests for new farmland
is to adopt a plant-based diet.
Not veg yet? Visit ChooseVeg.com for
recipes and tips on adopting a healthy vegetarian diet.
recipes and tips on adopting a healthy vegetarian diet.
