Much has been made of the rising global population and the effects the increase will have on the planet. Estimates regarding the global population by 2050 vary considerably. The World Resources Institute (WRI) says finding ways to sustainably feed an additional two to three billion people poses significant challenges in meeting demands, while lowering emissions. However, shifting to healthier, more sustainable diets could be part of the solution.
According to the WRI, beef, lamb, and goat consumption is projected to rise by 88% by 2050. Beef is the most commonly consumed ruminant meat, and the most resource intensive meat to produce. (Ruminants are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion.) Beef requires 20 times more land and emits 20 times as many greenhouse gases per gram of edible protein compared to plant proteins like lentils, beans, and peas. Shifting to diets that rely on plant-based proteins could help dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the need for more agricultural land. This could help preserve more land for forests, which can play an important role in combatting climate change.
While a widespread shift to a plant-based diet is unlikely to happen overnight, there are ways the agricultural sector and governments can partner to help, such as improving the marketing of plant-based foods, and improving meat substitutes already available at many grocery stores. The WRI says that implementing policies that favor consumption of plant-based foods is another step governments can take as they work toward creating a sustainable food future for a global population that is projected to expand considerably between 2023 and 2050.
