Much has been made about how the rising global population will affect the planet. Estimates of how much it will rise by 2050 vary considerably, but the World Resources Institute (WRI) says finding ways to sustainably feed an additional two to three billion people poses significant challenges for the agricultural sector. One such challenge is meeting those demands while lowering emissions. However, shifting to healthier, more sustainable diets could be part of the solution to that problem.
According to the WRI, consumption of beef, lamb, and goat is projected to rise by 88% between 2010 and 2050. Beef is the most commonly consumed ruminant meat, which could pose a problem as the global population expands rapidly, since beef is the most resource-intensive ruminant meat to produce. 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 relying on plant-based proteins could help dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the need for more agricultural land. The WRI says preventing the expansion of agricultural land could help save more land for forests, and also combat climate change.
A widespread shift to plant-based eating is unlikely to happen overnight, but there are steps the agricultural sector and governments can take to promote such a shift. The WRI says we need to improve efforts to market plant-based foods and improve meat substitutes available at many grocery stores. Policies that favor consumption of plant-based foods are another way to work toward creating a sustainable food future for a global population that will continue to expand.
