The global phase out of animal agriculture and a shift to a plant-based diet could significantly reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases for 30 years. A vegetarian diet can save nearly 100kgs of CO2 per year, with 1 vegetarian day per week (52 days a year) saving nearly 100kgs of CO2 per year. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that greenhouse emissions associated with food loss and waste are as high as 8-10 of ALL global emissions.
A vegan diet can cut emissions by 70 and 63, respectively. A global switch to diets relying less on meat and more on fruit and vegetables could save up to 8 million lives by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds, and lead to healthcare-related benefits. Meat and dairy specifically account for around 14.5 of global greenhouse gas emissions.
The’modern day’ plant-based diet emerging is different from traditional ones, consisting of pulses, vegetables, and wholegrain. Studies show that people who follow a plant-based diet account for 75% less in greenhouse gas emissions than those who eat more than 3.5 ounces of meat. Phasing out animal agriculture over the next 15 years would have the same effect as a 68% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the year 2100.
Plant diets lead to 75 less climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use than meat-rich ones. After adjustment for sex and age, an average 2,000 kcal high meat diet had 2.5 times as many GHG emissions than an average 2,000 kcal vegan diet. Researchers at the University of Oxford found that going vegan could reduce an individual’s carbon footprint from food by up to 73%.
📹 Can vegetarians save the planet?
Many consider vegetarians the new superheroes, able to stop climate change and global warming. They eat no meat and so have …
How much co2 is saved by being vegetarian?
A vegetarian diet, which eliminates meat and focuses on plant-based foods, can significantly reduce an individual’s carbon footprint. Studies suggest that a vegetarian diet can reduce food-related carbon emissions by up to 50 compared to a meat-heavy diet. A study by the University of Oxford found that cutting meat and dairy products from one’s diet could reduce carbon emissions by up to 73. Another study by the University of Chicago stated that a vegetarian diet is more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions than switching to a hybrid car.
However, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of food, including production, processing, and transportation, as locally grown vegetables can be more carbon-efficient than imported organic produce.
Is being vegetarian more harmful to the environment?
Vegetarian diets can help reduce wildlife habitat destruction and deforestation, as 30% of Earth’s land is used for livestock and grazing, leading to the destruction of vital habitats for wild animals. This blog post, based on the personal journey of an Education Intern at Potter Park Zoo, aims to raise awareness of conservation topics and present information about the benefits of vegetarianism. The author, who has been a meat eater for a lifetime, transitioned to a vegetarian diet after trying their first plant-based burger, which resembled real meat. The author acknowledges the challenges and changes that come with making a change in diet, but believes that vegetarianism can help preserve wildlife habitats and reduce deforestation.
Is veganism really saving the planet?
The environmental cost of industrialized animal farming is significant, accounting for 11. 2 of manmade greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists predict that if everyone went vegan, food-related emissions could decrease by 68 within 15 years, limiting global warming. However, it’s important to note that veganism can still lead to unhealthy eating habits, and some vegan foods may not be beneficial for the planet.
Are there negative effects of being vegetarian?
Vegetables like bok choy, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, collards, and kale are rich in calcium, while spinach and Swiss chards contain oxalates, making it difficult for the body to absorb calcium. The high potassium and magnesium content of fruits and vegetables also reduces blood acidity, lowering urinary excretion of calcium. Vegans may be at risk of insufficient vitamin D and vitamin K, which are essential for bone health. Green leafy vegetables contain some vitamin K, and vegans may need to rely on fortified foods like soy milk, rice milk, organic orange juice, and breakfast cereals.
Vitamin D supplements may also be beneficial. Concerns about vegetarian diets have mainly focused on protein. Lacto-ovo vegetarians generally get the recommended daily amount of protein from dairy products and eggs, while vegans may need 0. 45 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day due to the protein in vegetables. Plant sources like peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, seeds, nuts, soy products, and whole grains can help vegans meet their protein needs.
How much of greenhouse gas emissions are from meat?
Many groups claim that livestock agriculture contributes to at least 16. 5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but this ignores the uncertainty and wide range of estimates. Studies have used old GWP-100 values, which can significantly inflate estimates. The latest IPCC report proposes using lower values, resulting in estimates that livestock account for 14. 0 to 17. 3 percent of global emissions. The FAO’s most recent estimate, released in 2022, uses these lower values and concludes that livestock production generated 6.
2 billion metric tons CO2e in 2015, or 11. 1 percent of total global emissions. However, this analysis has several limitations and uncertainties, including the possibility of under- or overestimate depending on whether grassland managed for livestock production is a net source of emissions or a net sink. FAO estimates that livestock production resulted in about one-third as much deforestation and land-use change as Xu et al. had found, albeit for different time periods.
Additionally, several studies suggest that FAO and other conventional estimates of methane emissions from intensive animal operations are underestimated, matching poorly with atmospheric observations of methane. In summary, livestock production appears to contribute about 11-17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, when using the most recent GWP-100 values, but there remains great uncertainty in the underlying data.
How does eating non-veg increase carbon footprint?
Deforestation is a major environmental issue, causing significant harm to the environment. Trees capture and store CO2, a harmful greenhouse gas, which is released back into the atmosphere when cut or burned down. Eating meat contributes to global warming by releasing CO2 back into the atmosphere. Deforestation also destroys habitats for millions of species, reducing biodiversity and potentially wiping out entire species. A 2021 study found that in the Amazon, over 10, 000 plant and animal species are at risk of extinction due to deforestation.
Factory farming, which produces most meat on previously forested land, also contributes to environmental pollution. Around 11-19% of global greenhouse emissions come from livestock, including emissions from animals, land use, and smaller sources like food transport and equipment.
Is veganism actually better for the environment?
Vegan diets have lower carbon, water, and ecological footprints than meat or fish-eaters. However, imported fruit can be problematic as it is often air-freighted into the UK, increasing its carbon footprint. Food miles alone aren’t the best measure of sustainability, as some intensively grown local produce can have a bigger footprint than imported food. There are also knowledge gaps, such as limited research into new vegan foods like jackfruit, which can make it difficult to judge their environmental credentials.
Why is eating meat bad for the planet?
The production of meat has been identified as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a primary source of adverse environmental impacts. These include the exertion of pressure on global freshwater resources, which are subject to considerable variation across different regions and can potentially result in severe water resource stress in certain areas.
How much CO2 do you save being vegetarian?
A vegetarian diet has been demonstrated to result in the saving of approximately 100 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year, 153 kilograms per year, and 143 kilograms per year, respectively. Furthermore, a vegan diet has been shown to result in the saving of nearly 231 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. Even if one does not consume meat or fish, transitioning from a vegetarian to a vegan diet can still result in significant reductions in CO2 emissions on an annual basis.
A vegan diet comprising one day per week can result in a reduction of approximately 50 kg of CO₂ per year. Furthermore, a vegan diet comprising one week per month can lead to a reduction of approximately 80 kg of CO₂ per year.
Does being vegan reduce global warming?
Vegan diets can significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions by replacing half of all animal-based meals with vegan ones. This could reduce emissions by 35 by switching to vegan diets. Alternative dairy products like soy milk, almond milk, rice milk, and oat milk have less environmental impact than conventional dairy products. Additionally, animal husbandry contributes to land degradation, as excessive grazing causes water and nutrient loss, leading to unusable desert land. Farmland used to grow corn and other foods for farmed animals, particularly cattle, is also a significant contributor to land degradation.
Do vegans have a larger carbon footprint?
High meat-eating men have the highest dietary greenhouse gas emissions, while vegan women have the lowest. Meat-eaters have significantly higher emissions than fish-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Meat-eaters are approximately twice as high as vegans. Red meat production, such as beef, lamb, and pork, generates 23 of agriculture-related greenhouse gases. Ruminant animals like cattle, sheep, and dairy emit more greenhouse gases than pigs or poultry.
About 44 of total global methane emissions are from livestock, with beef production being the dominant source. On average, 43 kg of greenhouse gases are released during beef production, with approximately 22 kg being methane emissions. Methane emissions are more damaging to the environment than CO2 emissions. Beef production requires 42 times more land use, 2 times more water use, 4 times more nitrogen, and generates 3 times more GHG emissions than staple plant foods per gram of protein.
📹 How could veganism change the world?
Interest in vegan food and its associated health benefits has been booming across the rich world. A global retreat from meat could …
I LOVE the fact that the Economist is talking about this! This wouldn’t have been possible 20 years ago. Things are changing and people are waking up. I have been vegan for 4 years and vegetarian for 20 years. The last 4 years have been the healthiest years of my life. Anyone can do it. Any little step help, even reducing your animal protein consumption to say once a week helps! People are afraid of change but change can lead to amazing things. #govegan
Been vegan just over 3 years now, my physical & mental health has improved since then, I’ve learned to cook, I’ve made new like minded vegan friends, I don’t feel like I’m missing out at all flavour wise because there’s a vegan version of everything! I’ve learned (though trial and error and Dr. Melanie Joy’s book) how to communicate better with others, I’ve learned so much about health and nutrition and I shop more consciously now even with clothing I try not to buy from companies with human rights issues, I’ve cut down my plastic usage and I feel good doing it. It feels good to do good. Being vegan is a joy 😁🙌🏼
I had a very heated argument with a Vegan couple of years back, almost a physical fight, never spoke or saw that person again but that led me to watch Gary Yourofsky’s greatest speech and I who once was killing animals(cows, goats, lambs) every year on a Islamic ritual(Eid ul Adha) and my whole family became Vegan with in days. It’s the greatest decision I have ever taken in my life, we still eat the same pakistani style food but everything’s vegan now, the only regret is if someone had criticised me for my choices earlier and I would have become Vegan much earlier and the cries, screams, tears and pain in the last moments of animals I killed, still haunt me to this day 🙁
Valid concerns for our world. I wonder why meatless burgers are more expensive if veganism is being sold as using less resources to produce? If you look at low income groups where starvation is real, plant protein have always been cheaper. Commercialisation models that make it more expensive are self defeating to this cause.
7 years Vegan and never been healthier. Go 30 days Vegan and try for yourself. I make Vegan sushi and Vegan sausages from Beyond Meat for my friends and tell them after dinner it’s Vegan. They all are amazed and most Go Vegan for good. It’s easy once you see and feel the results after just 30 days. JUST DO IT!!!
India had mostly vegan diet for normal middle class family but then globalisation happened. All the unhealthy fast food chains started entering India and now we have international dairy and ice cream and donut industries set up in India. It has made India unhealthy, obese and diabetic. Time to change this.
During my first year of college I had a lot of health issues. I thought I was eating pretty healthy and taking care of myself so I was confused on why I kept getting so many health issues. I ate meat, dairy, veggies, fruit.. but I experienced the worst year of my life in regards to my health. I had kidney stones, debilitating stomach cramps, stomach flu, the cold, etc. I saw a documentary on veganism and read articles and thought I would try it out. Best decision I made. I havent been sick since I made the change. I honestly feel more motivated and better than ever. My body feels light and renewed. I don’t feel sick anymore after eating meals. Anyone can make the change. I never thought that I could give up dairy and meat. My italian family had meat and cheese with every dish.. but I made the change. You can too.
This is a brilliant message for veganism and it’s awesome that this farmer has made that positive transition to plant based farming. All farmers need to do this and if they don’t know how, they should have good support from the government to do make the change. A vegan World is coming and I can’t wait. Better for the Planet, the animals and each other. Everyone’s an animal lover deep down, but like the farmer said in this article, it’s a supply and demand thing, if consumers / customers buy horrible meat and dairy, the meat and dairy industry supply it. Everyone makes a difference so don’t appeal to futility. Go vegan =)
Used to be a crazy meat eater. But now I feel better than ever, and vegan food is really good if you actually put some effort in reading a recipe and start cooking. Some people just decide to be blind and say “vegan food is disgusting” and they maybe tried it once from the supermarket. It’s really easy to talk nonsense, but why don’t you actually try first?
Best part of being vegan is that you feel more human, less of the animal predator, plus that you’re doing more to help the planet. And it’s amazing how far we’re coming along in producing delicious meat substitutes. At least where I live, meat substitute products are a growing and highly successful business. The fact that meatless Mondays have gained much popularity is very encouraging. Everyone at their one pace, one step at a time!
I’ve been vegan for 4 months, and vegetarian for 5 years before that and now I can see there was no benefits to being vegetarian really. Everything I ate contained cheese, but now when I see cheese it makes me want to throw up, can’t believe I actually used to eat it and I don’t get how others still do 🤢.
Even if the consequence of the world heating is not as bad as it is made out to be, it does not devalue the concept of veganism, because it is based of ethics, and the pursuit of a more environmentally friendly society. (Which does not just have to do with global warming, but also general pollution, waste, and the overconsumption of resources.) There is this stereotype that all vegans are far leftists soy boys, who are obnoxious in their pursuit of trying to be persevered as better than everyone. I happen to be a right wing, libertarian, and a vegan (I only state that because it is of value to my argument), and I do think that in some point vegetarianism at the least, is going to hopefully, or have to be the future.
The vegetarian butcher made a great business decision when he switched to plant based. Way ahead of the curve. He’s actually opened his own restaurants now in Den Hague selling and highlights their products. Good job. It’s great when good ethics become good business. I think this will be more and more relevant in all areas of business from now on. (And for all you free marketeers, please try to eat less meat, so the state doesn’t have to step in with regulations and Pigovian taxes (although removing subsidies to meat industry could help reveal the true costs)).
Plant-based diet. Well any food that is closer to the sun as Nikola Tesla said will increase human energy. Plants are marvelous and help maintain a sin-free diet! Peace and love. Factory farming and genetic engineering must go. I still don’t understand why the government proceeds to illusive measures for population balance. Can we just talk it out? Or do we really need a revolution or some sort of paradigm shift to get the ball rolling. Who is with me on this?
Thank you for this short and to the point article. This might help some of my family and friends who just don’t get it ‘yet.’ I am 66 yrs ‘young’ and going on 2 yrs of being vegan and living the example as best as i know how. I can only hope and pray that they will ‘get it’ soon. ❤ and much gratitude to ALL in helping the unconscious beings to SEE the Light.
The problem isn’t about eating meat or eating vegetables and fruits, the problem is the amount of demand for mass production. Agriculture in general can damage the environment. If the demand for vegetables and fruits grow, naturally producers will try to increase production. Growing vegetables and fruits require large amount of land, if they are unable to find anymore land available then they will start foresting or expand the existing areas by filling in bay areas in order to make more room.
I was vegan for a few years. I got gradually worse and after a few years I got brain fog, extreme adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, sunken eyes due to collagen storages being used up, demineralized see-through teeth and cavities, inflamed gums, inflammation in head/ear area. My cognitive health declined with the brain fog and it was more difficult for me to express myself, low blood pressure, feeling cold all the time, pale yellowish greyish skin tone. I listened to similar experiences from exvegans who got better once they started to consume animal foods again. Now I eat a lot of meat, raw milk, raw eggs and I got better, I can finally think clearly without brain fog, I have finally the strength again to do things in my life which I missed so much for the last years. This week was the first time in a long time that I was able to stand up from bed without feeling like fainting and I even had energy in the morning. My face also slowly gets fuller again and more youthful. Before it was emaciated thin, with visible lack of collagen. Everyone has different vitamin stores and a different health background, thatswhy some people hold out on veganism a few years less or more. We need fat soluble vitamins from animal foods for our bodies and especially for our brains. I encourage everyone to listen to both sides of the story, that means to ex vegans as well and listen to what they have to say, to their health problems while being on veganism. Don’t wait until your health falls apart. I’m still recovering from veganism.
I’m a baby vegan (3,5 months) but I’m already 2 pounds lighter, my overall health has improved and food has never tasted better. If you’re considering making the change, ask vegan friends for help/do your own research to design a diet that will provide you with all the necessary nutrients. I wish I’d gone vegan earlier instead of just talking about it for 15 years. It’s really easier than it seems
What a lovely article. I love how it highlights the environmental issue, because not everyone can afford electric car or solar power for their electricity, but everyone can choose to have more plant-based diet food every single day, because we do need to eat everyday. Environmental issue is the biggest reason I went vegan, but I’m amazed at how healthy I am since I adopted the dietary choice. I have better relationship with animal too. I can see every animal I meet in the eyes and smile, knowing that I never hurt any of them just because I was supposedly hungry. It’s nice to know you add a little happiness to others. For others who wants to go vegan but the task seems extremely daunting, try Meat Free Monday first! I did it myself for about a month or two, then suddenly the switch is easier.
I was on a 1 year vegan diet, with the supervision of my doctor who guarded my vitamin levels. My body has changed in the following ways by not using animal products. Upsides: + weight loss ~15kg + skin improvements Downsides: – vitamins b12 defiancy – fatigue, Memory problems and Drowsiness The low vitamin B12 amounts in plant-based foods are not enough to meet my needs. My vitamine B12 value was in the normal range before the diet. To remedy the deficiency, I had to go through months of B12 injection therapy. I decided to stop the vegan diet. I feel the best in terms of health through a balanced diet, which also includes animal products.
people who really want to make a difference but going completely vegan sound intimating, then are many option in the middle. We can quit eating red meat and can consume just poultry and fish or even better you can go vegetarian. I am from India and majority of people including my entire family are vegetarian, even the ones who are non vegetarian mostly just eat chicken and sometimes(one a month may be) eat goat . So its easy and sustainable just give it a try.
Beautiful! Thank you for this presentation! Also, let’s not forget that in going vegan we will address the root cause of our peacefulness problems on earth. It would be impossible to truly realize peace if our fundamental sustenance comes from stabbing friendly creatures in their throats. Impossible. Peace begins on our plate and we get to vote for it 3 times each day and snacks. Be kind to every kind. Go vegan 🙂
Everyone – remember that there are lots of options between carnivore and vegan. You can be a vegetarian instead. Or maybe a pescetarian, allowing fish in your diet. Maybe you want to avoid red meats, and stick to more sustainable sources of meat like chicken. Perhaps you want to keep eating meat, but you’ll do meat free mondays. Or you can even just put a bit less meat in your stew. Everything helps. If you try, thanks – good on you!
What this studies misses out in consideration is the aspect of cultural, anthropological and historical aspect and often religious influences related to food habits. People don’t just eat meat just because they can, but it is a result of above mentioned aspect which in turn is found in traditional food of a particular community. Food habits of a community takes ages to form and people are usually proud of it. Food is a community based practice and to change the food habits of people which they like is to change their identity which they relate to food. It might seem very ‘perfect’ to form a vegan world but is euthopian ideal condition. Unlike in Europe where big processing units who controls most of the food chain of the people, in Asia, Africa and other continents, people eat whatever they get locally. Here, local markets provides people food demand and such influencial processing units are unimaginable. But lets imagine that all the people in the world are to go vegan somehow, the result will be disastrous, as majority of the world’s population will have protein and other nutrients deficits which will lead to widespread health related issues as they won’t be able to get the vegan products that substitutes cheap protein in meat. It will lead to so much of malnutrition in the world that the world will be in chaos, might even lead to civil wars all around just for food. To survive, people need food whether it be veg or non veg, the world hasn’t been able to solve the hunger problem even in 21st century and at this point if someone stops a poor guy from eating meat, he/she will just go violent and like I said before, the violence won’t stop, it will just keep increasing.
End ALL farm subsidies for pastoral farming and make them pay for the damage they are doing to the air and water. Treat processed pork and red meat like the known carcinogens they are and tax them the same as tobacco. Eating animal products is a destructive, unhealthy and easily avoidable lifestyle choice that people should not be forced to pay for.
I highly recommend the new Vegan 2018 film released yesterday by Plant Based News to fill you in on what’s really going on as it related to plant-based food worldwide. Also, for those who are not vegan, please do watch Forks Over Knives, Cowspiracy, Eathlings… and get educated. As others here have said, you don’t have to give up all meat in one shot…it is hard (as someone who has done it, I can tell you…my transition took over a year). However, if we ALL start reducing our consumption of animal products (starting with red meat), not only will we be contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable planet and future but also to our own health. You can do it! 👊🏼😁 Way to go Economist!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Hear hear, veganism is easy, cheap, delicious, environmentally necessary, and should be a moral imperative. I’m a fitter, faster, happier athlete since going vegan 2 years ago, and have had all the tastiest food of my life in that time with the lowest food shopping budget. People are just uneducated, stubborn, and lazy, but they’ll come around eventually. The truth always wins.
I have never tasted meat in my entire life,you can thank me later for my contribution. BTW, in India the Hinduism practices we follow there are just so many more veg options, you guys can simply copy many of our dishes, you don’t really need factory made meat .Also, cows are sacred so that helps too .
Going vegan ain’t gonna do nothing. Nobody in the world ever decided to take into account what happens to wasted food. Most food we feed livestock is byproducts that can’t be consumed by humans or is usually food that would’ve gone to waste. Something people need to take into account is that you can’t grow food whenever and wherever you want. 2/3 of land taken up by cows are madrigal land which is land that is too rocky, hilly, or the conditions aren’t suitable for growing crops, but are able to produce grass and feed cows. Another thing people need to learn is that 1/3 is land that could be grown into crops, but if we stopped using that land for cows 2/3 of that land would go to waste. Another thing to take into account is that people are starving A LOT. Vegetables and supplements are expensive for the people in poor countries for the people in America that are reading this.
The main issue with veganism is the perfection requirement. If people could advocate a diet that focuses on inspiring people to simply reduce their animal product intake, we would see SO much change. People are hesitant to even consider veganism because the idea of cutting out all animal products, FOREVER, is daunting.
If she would bark she wouldn’t be meat, But well, she doesn’t and her we shall eat. If he wasn’t so fat and as sweet as my cat He’s life would go on, but what can you do? He’s not quite the same, so now he is food. And they’re not as fast as they used to be. Their life should continue, but hey why feel blue? They’re not as they were, so now they are glue. We don’t want to be a boot on anyone’s foot. We want to be free and enjoy our own life, We don’t want to end it under your knife. I’m in the mood to have some more food, Therefore I kill and often feel ill. Why eat what grows, when one can murder? Why even bother to think and to wonder? If they feel pain – are torture, slavery and murder insane? Those extreme vegans say murder is wrong, But isn’t it strange when food has no bones? When I was cute, yellow and fluffy, you used to love me. But now all I am is scruffy and puffy. No longer cute as a little puppy, So now I’m dead, no longer your buddy. Don’t want to be belts, shoes, gloves or jackets Don’t want to fill pillows, nor test your cosmetics. I’m in the mood to have some more food, Therefore I kill and often feel ill. Why eat a plant when one can murder? Why not cause pain and make others suffer?
You can’t completely ignore or remove the role of ruminant animals in all agriculture. Ruminants are the critical element in upcycling and recycling nutrients. Monocropping drains soils of nutrients over time and creates a tremendous amount of biowaste. Only ruminants can effectively return nutrients to the soil. Taking ruminants out of the global food picture and everything falls apart, costs go up, land becomes arid, nutrition levels go down etc.
I am vegan for ten years, I was doing that for the animals and later I was informed how much I help the planet. But my first thought is if the environment wouldn’t be affected by meat industry nobody would care. If climate change didn’t affect our lives, we would never care about it. We have to think less in our self-centred perspective and more for all creatures. Love and respect will save the planet…
My mom has been vegan all her life, she imposed this way of eating to me and my sister until we became anemic, and my father literally changed everything stating that if she wanted to be vegan that was fine, but dont make our children pay for your stubborness. I think it was by that time my mom began having mental issues, she began being delirious, her weight dropped and when she went to the hospital we discovered she was missing a lot of essential nutrients. Day of today she is still ‘vegan’, and of course unstable mentally, her mood changes so much, her weight is like a rollercoaster (when she starts eating everything, she looks happy, stable, sleep well (she has to stop with this nonsense some time because it has been may times she has been close to death), when she goes back to the stupid vegan shit the madness comes back). Ive lived all my live with this situation, and i can’t be more against it, i can’t support a diet that lacks essential nutrients, and i can’t stand people that imposes that to their children or even pets putting their life at risk. I do defend a more sustainable way of producing food and all they food i buy is organic and ecologic. In addition, i have to say all the people i know that are vegans, are extremely thin and weak, it looks like thy have energy but they run out of it extremely fast, they also don’t have muscle so any physic activity that involves strength they really can fill the minimums, i really think you people are stubborn as fuck, but as far as the one affected is yourself (anyone can do what they want with their body) thats fine, its when another life is involved that i completely disagree with this way of living.
Have u ever ate real veg food? All the veg dishes you have are like appetizers and not a real meal. India is majority meat-eating country, but we mostly eat meat only one day a week. Too much meat eating is discouraged by elders from a very young age. Once u eat Indian vegetarian meals, you will wonder what kind of heaven it is. I never understood how anyone can eat 3 meat meals (or burgers, pizzas which is even worse) a day, every single day of the year. That is horrifying. Try eating veg food for a single meal everyday and then you can slowly change. My white friend eats meat only 3 days a week now and she is loving it. Also, cows are amazingly cute and empathetic animals. Do not abuse and eat such loving creatures. They are equivalent to dogs and cats in showing their love. And they take a lot of resources to grow compared to pigs, goats and other animals and emit toxic methane as well. So rear less cattle and let them live their lives fully.
Do you really think we can eat grains fed to animals? Most farm land is used for animals, because vegitables/fruit are impossible to grow in big quantities. Hill sides, warying seasons, northern climate. A country like France is “too far north”, and buys most of its greens from Spain and Africa. Manure from pastured animals increases grass growth, which pulls carbon from the air. Do researcher messure emmisions with this in mind? If it’s true that vegan farming can reduce co2, despite the need for jet shipping, we will still die due to pesticides. Planes flying over open fields, spraying a thick fog of poison multiple times during production. Not exactly envoirnmentally friendly. Abstaining from meat makes humans deficient in over 15 vitamins and nutrients. This means taking fake versions in pill form. Sick people need pills, not people on a healthy diet. No wonder 60% of vegitarians, and 80% of vegans, quit the diet.
All we need is the government and other powerhouse forces within our economic system to recognize that THERE IS A FLOURISHING MARKET FOR THESE PRODUCTS and they can still generate max profit while also fostering the betterment of public health. We just need the right people who aren’t afraid to make this switch to establish the plant based diet into the economic realm which will turn and inadvertently persuade the govt
The only thing here I don’t like is the feeling of going from one extrime to the another or else change isn’t appreciated by others. The whole article is focused predominantly on the overproduction and overconsumption of cows and there is a whole spectrum of solutions for that many more people could engage into such as mediterranean, vegetarian, pescatarian, entomophagous, zero waste, localy produced, home grown.. and so on and so on.. with that rhetoric there would be much more interest and much less negativity about ecological aspects of veganism. Like when zero wasters insist that it is way better to have 10 people who partialy have zerowaste lifestyle then to have only one who is 100% into it. Only at the end it is finally mentioned.
Videos like this are really important, because people get to know more about veganism and its benefits for the environment. However, I think the issue with veganism (at least for some of us) is not that we don’t like the taste of vegan meals, but the lack of iron and B12. I am considering going vegan, but I’ve been low on those two basically my whole life and I’m scared it won’t work out. Do you have any tips on that?
I’m surprised The Economist started to care about the environment. A bit too late but I hope they are serious about that. I think about 10 years ago, I remember reading in this “respected” magazine an article featured in the cover titled something like “How organic food is HARMING the world”. It was pure propaganda from the corporations’ side, without proving anything, and then I quit reading the magazine.
Id like to accept the challenge. Here is my reasoning: 1) its proven to be unhealthy to not eat meat. There are some nutrients, like essential fats and a very few vitamins like K, that you dont get from plant based foods. A lot of nutrients like many of the vitamin B complex, iron and proteins are very difficult to get from plant based diet only though not entirely impossible, but as amtter of fact most vegans have to quit their diet after 5 years because they do egt a lot of health issues that are nutrition based. Also many vegans eat wayyyy too many nuts and acidic fruits which results in a lot of allergies, potential nerve damage and teeth problems. Almost no vegan actually eats the neccesary vitamins and proteins per day because that is, while in theory possible, an basicly impossible task for any person that cant spend 12 hours a day planning the diet, preparing and eating it. Also some plant based oils are actually quite unhealthy and can make you fat extremely quickly, not to mention that most vegans simply lack protein and thus a lack in physical strength Finally, plants have self defense mechanisms – usually the Kernels are not only rich in nutrients but also acids and even poisons and while they dont make much if youe at plants from time to time, they can add up quickly to very unhealthy levels but most importantly many of those are anti nutrients and make it much harder for your body to actually get the nutrients needed, cause headaches and a generel feeling of being tired.
minute 0:16 …. and around 60% more food would be needed to feed everyone… According to the statistics of North America made public in 2011-2012 an average US household threw away 40% of purchased food, a Canadian household – 25%. I guess most of us know simple Math…. How about we start educating people on how to leave by the means and not to waste as the first step.
Been on and off with vegan lifestyle about 7 times in 6 years. Longest was 3 months. Now on Day 3 for the 8th time. Housemate just made these seasoned halal lamb burgers and I said no – that’s the mentality I need to stick with. Not being influenced by others or by nostalgia. I’m aware vegan is healthier, I know I feel better and get way more nutrients because I focus on nutrient and calorically dense foods with multiple nutrients, instead of meat that provides one macro nutrient and costs 4 times more than a plant source that not has protein but a variety of nutrients that benefit my bodys function. Simple thing is – we all know Vegan is healthier. No one doubts that. Habits and Influence are the things to get past.
This is a great article and as a vegan I was thrilled to see it posted by The Economist. However, I’m wondering why they chose to use primarily images of livestock in pastures, when in reality meat comes almost exclusively from factory farms where animals have no space to move nor access to the outdoors? I found this misleading and it seems it would have been more conducive to the argument to show the horrific reality of factory farming.
Along with Jersey or Holstein Western cows, methane gas is emitted in much bigger quantity by Shell gas producers in USA. This methane gas trapped inside the earth, is flaking out since 2008, and causing the heat waves that we are experiencing in summer. It’s making ocean currents more hotter and that brings sharp increase in summer temperature and affects rain and wind cycle across the world. Numbers of animals in the world have not increased so much since 2008 that arctic ice is now at the lowest level. But, yes methane gas emissions due to shell gas flaking has definitely increased multiple times, and that is melting arctic ice to the dangerously low level since human being came into existence. So, by just being vegans, methane gas emissions from shell gas flaking is not going to stop. Indian vedic cows emits only 5% methane than western cows. Why it is so ? Read Ajit Vadakayil blog on A2 milk.
Most land is used for pastures for animals because 89% of land is not suitable for planting crops. We have a word for it: nonarable land. Most land is not good for crops due to aridity, steepness, rockiness, soil composition. These unsuitable, or marginal, lands are great for grazing animals. The land will not just tolerate grazing by animals……..Grazing actually can IMPROVE the land. However, if we try to grow crops on these marginal lands then we must deforest, use chemical fertilizers, irrigation and other destructive ecological practices.
That would be a dream. Unfortunately the govermenr wouldn’t do a thing. Because they earn as well the huge meat lobbyists…. I wished meat would be sooooo freaking expensiv and a meat tax. That people would stop, only for the sake of saving money. Since being a vegetarian more than a half year and vegan almost a month, I saved sooo much money!!!
Please note to avoid metabolic diseases like diabetes, cancer and more, the key is to reduce dietary glucose, due to insulin resistance and the Warburg Effect. Glucose is the main component of carbohydrates, so vegan and vegetarian people are not free from these problems. Also you should avoid gluten which is present in all cereals. So a healthy diet should restrict cereals and carbohydrates. I agree we should also restrict meat, for many of the reasons described in the article, but please do not use health reasons. The European Union has animal welfare regulations that I think are very sensible.
I’m not arguing for the overall comparartive health of an omnivorous diet vs an herbivorious one. I feel like that argument fails to take into account education (on things like cooking and nutrition), individual choice, and access (i.e., food deserts). One thing that always bothers me about discussions of veganism is the “relative-health-of-the-diet” argument. A vegan diet CAN be healthful, but so can a omnivorous one. Just as both can consist of a lot of junk. Both diets can consist of non-nutritious foods and a lack of balance and variety.
The best diet is Mediterranean one, with app. 80-85% of calorie intake being plant-based products, and the rest being meat. We do not need to produce so much meat like we do now, same with food. About a third of food ever produced never gets eaten… (Eaten by humans, decomposition could be considered as eating by microorganisms, but let’s not count rotting as eating).
Fascinating article. After reading the accompanying article I’m rather concerned on the GMO ingredients involved. Also I don’t see any potential in companies gaining vast valuations other than trendy hipsters cashing in on some middle class fashion trend of vegan diets. Great to see traditional values of slow expansion enterprise in the Vegetarian Butcher featured in this piece. If we genuinely move forward slowly then we’ll change our habits. If it’s fast buck valuations then it’s just printing fake money for economic expansion which won’t change habits.
To make people go vegan people need to understand that vegan foods need to become more available and lower in price.It is very difficult to make the world change when most fresh fruits and vegetables cost a lot more than a burger and chicken nuggets from a fast food place.And people need to be more informed on how to replace the nutrients they would be losing by not eating meat. Then maybe some people would consider it.
Alan Savory, grasslands expert (see his Ted Talk) says that grasslands will not be healthy unless we have herds of livestock grazing small areas intensely, with very frequent rotation to a new pasture. This mimics the ancient, wild ecology of the grassland. (Think buffalo herds on the Great Plains before the westward expansion.). If we all become vegan (and if we do not follow Savory’s advice) our grasslands will suffer. On a smaller scale, if we eliminate livestock, we eliminate a vital part of crop rotation (and crop rotation is a core wisdom of traditional agriculture, wisdom sadly lacking in the huge plantations of commercial agri-business.) The manure is absolutely essential for soil health. Veganism has flaws. This cult must be challenged.
This is a very short sighted report. I am not against people going vegan but there is a whole lot if misconception about what is possible on land where cattle graze. Most land where cattle graze is not siitable for crop production . Cattle production isnt as profitable as most other crops so if it was possible to grow other food on it it would probably have been grown on that land. This is only one of the misconceptions and there is a mountain of others as well.
I work 12 hours a day high intensity work, if you can give me 3 meals =3000 cal that each take 4 hours to digest in order to give me enough energy,and enough b12 for healthy nerves system to keep me vigilant and safe, fine I’m for it 100% any other argument won’t win,but the future alternative in my opinion is locusts.