2023-09-12 17:00:06
More and more plant alternatives are being promoted over products of animal origin to achieve diets more respectful of environment. Now, researchers from Austria and the United States have used a global economic model of land use to evaluate the impact of this dietary change on the entire food system on a global scale.
The results, published in the journal Nature Communicationsshow that if 50% of pork, beef, chicken and milk consumption is replaced by products from plants before 2050, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced. greenhouse gases (GEI) associated with the agricultural-livestock sector and its use of land by 31% compared to 2020.
“Understanding the impact of dietary changes expands our options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says lead author Marta Kozickaresearcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Austria), “and the change in diet could also mean enormous improvements for biodiversity.”
Understanding the impact of changes in our diet expands our options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve biodiversity
Marta Kozicka (IIASA, Austria)
In fact, the results indicate that the global net destruction of forests and natural lands could be almost completely stopped. The World agricultural-livestock area would also decrease by 12% Instead of increasing, the water consumption would be reduced by 10% and nitrogen contributions to croplands would be almost half of those planned.
Change in emissions from agriculture-livestock and land use between 2020 (with a reference scenario) and 2050 (with a scenario of global substitution of 50% of animal products). / Marta Kozicka
Despite representing less than 20% of the world’s food energy supply, animal products are responsible for the majority of negative impacts on land use, water use, biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. greenhouse in global food systems.
Reconquer land for forests
The full environmental benefit of dietary changes can be achieved if agricultural land saved from livestock and feed production is reclaimed through biodiversity-oriented afforestation.
According to the study, reforestation of land freed from livestock production when meat and dairy products are replaced by plant-based alternatives would double the climate benefits and halve the future decline in ecosystem integrity between now and 2050.
The restored area could contribute up to 25% to the estimated global land restoration needs for 2030 in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
“We will need much more than the Meatless Monday (international initiative of not eating meat that day for the health of oneself and the whole) to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, and this study shows us a way forward,” states the co-author Eva Wollenberg from the University of Vermont (USA).
“Las vegetable ‘meats’ [de tofu o soja, por ejemplo] They are not just a novel food product – he emphasizes – but a decisive opportunity to achieve food security and climate objectives, while achieving other health and biodiversity objectives around the world. “These transitions are challenging and require a series of technological innovations and policy interventions.”
Vegetable ‘meats’ are a decisive opportunity to achieve food security and climate objectives
Eva Wollenberg (University of Vermont)
The authors analyzed the main food products of animal origin (pork, beef, chicken and milk) and how they could be replaced by alternative vegetable recipes specific but with a similar nutritional value.
Thus, they discovered that replacing beef could provide the greatest benefits. The largest reductions in biodiversity losses were recorded in sub-Saharan Africa, China and Southeast Asia.
Adaptation of livestock farmers
Although the results support the increased use of plant-based meat substitutes, the authors acknowledge that the Livestock are a valuable source of income and food for small farmers in low- and middle-income countries, and has important cultural functions, reduces risk and diversifies the income of small farmers.
But, simultaneously, climate change threatens the livelihoods of small livestock farmers. Therefore, it will be crucial to rapid political and management action to avoid environmental risk and support livestock value chain agents for a socially just and sustainable food system transition.
Political action will be crucial to support livestock farmers for a socially just and sustainable transition of the food system
“The food sector produces approximately a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and has been notoriously difficult to decarbonize,” notes Wollenberg.
Now, “given the magnitude of the benefits we show from replacing meat with plant-based alternatives for global sustainability, climate action and human health, this research provides important food for thought for consumersfood producers and policy makers,” he concludes.
Rights: Creative Commons.
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