Is vegan food synonymous with sustainable food?

It is increasingly common among people in our society to stop eating meat, or not to take any product of animal origin.

Recently, the consequences of the worldwide adoption of a vegetarian or vegan diet have been analyzed, in addition to the impact of the production of foods of animal origin, and today we want to explain the most interesting conclusions.

What about the environmental impact?

Regarding the manufacture of animal feed, its impact on the environment is 10 times higher that of vegetables, which has had an impact on the health of the planet for a long time. Products of animal origin require more land area and water, and also emit more pollutants into the atmosphere and soils.

According to the known data, speculation is beginning about the effects of a possible mass migration to a vegetable diet. 83% of the Earth is necessary to produce animal food and consequently they emit 60% of the pollution.

Now it must be taken into account that products of this type only provide 18% of the calories that sustain human life, which is 37% of proteins. The environmental cost of each food of animal origin is superior to its vegetable equivalent.

Joseph Poore, an Oxford researcher and co-author of a major study, explains that a massive plant-based diet would mean reducing a wide range of environmental impacts, although it is very difficult to achieve a generalized change in the behavior of society.

Changes in something as important as the products that human beings consume in order to live, depend mainly on cultural and sociological aspects, which are irrational from a scientific point of view.

What would a vegan world be like?

A world without animal food production reduce global water consumption and emissions by 20% and 50% respectively. If 76% of the Earth were returned to nature, that huge area would be dedicated to restore pastures and forests to capture carbon.

They could also be make new crops to supply the world’s population, but here we find a problem, since many areas of the world they are not suitable for crops and most of them focus on developing countries.

The global transition of food production could cause health crises in these countries, taking into account that animal products contribute more nutrients per calorie than the main plant foods, such as rice and cereals.

In conclusion, humanity should know and address both the challenges and the benefits of a 100% vegan society.