BERLIN: Reducing beef consumption by 20 percent could halve deforestation by 2050, according to a new study. The study also found that beef consumption should be curtailed by including in the diet a microbial protein made from fermentation, which can be used as a substitute for meat. The discovery was made by Potsdam, an organization that studies climate change in Germany.
Livestock is one of the major causes of deforestation worldwide. Many forests have already been cleared of carbon for grazing. This results in an increase in greenhouse gases that are more potent than carbon dioxide. Therefore, a 20 percent reduction in beef consumption could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the study said.
According to a researcher, human diet is one-third of the global emissions of greenhouse gases, and meat production is a major factor. Instead, the study suggests, red meat may have more microbial protein in its texture and taste. Microbial proteins are made from processed materials such as beer and bread. It was first built in the 1980s. The use of microbial protein instead of meat would be a good start to reduce the harmful effects of current beef production, say Pottsdam researchers.