2024 Author: Adelina Croftoon | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 02:07
It is rather difficult to imagine a world in which all people adhere to strict vegetarianism or veganism, even if it is required for the survival of humanity on planet Earth. Such a diet implies the absence in the diet not only of meat, but also of any products that involve the exploitation and killing of animals, that is, the use of milk, eggs and honey is also unacceptable.
But, despite the unlikely likelihood of such a development of events, it is such a scenario that would help cover the steadily growing needs of humanity in the future, at least according to the authors of a new study published in the journal Nature Communications.
Professor Karl-Heinz Erb (Karl-Heinz Erb) of the Institute for Social Ecology in Vienna and his colleagues explored the possibilities of providing food for the world's population by 2050when its number reaches 9, 3 billion. In their calculations, they were guided by data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the US Department of Agriculture and other sources.
Scientists have modeled 500 possible scenarios for the future, focusing on the likely needs of humanity and the possibilities of agriculture. They took into account such factors as changes in crop yields, the amount of area used, dietary preferences of different peoples, and many others.
As a result, the most productive strategy, the most favorable from an environmental point of view, turned out to be the transition to consumption by people exclusively plant food … In this case, 100% of the goals set by the researchers would be achieved, that is, it would be possible to feed everyone and at the same time preserve the biodiversity of the planet.
In second place with a result of 94% was vegetarianism, which implies the exclusion of only meat products from the diet. And only 15% of the goals will be achieved if the entire population of the Earth adheres to a meat-based diet in the so-called Western style.
Agriculture makes one of the most tangible contributors to global warming by emitting more greenhouse gases than all our cars, trains and airplanes. An increase in the livestock population requires new land for pastures; more fertile lands are often used, to the detriment of crop production.
Nitrogenous fertilizers and manure pollute water bodies. Deforestation for the establishment of new agricultural land leads to an increase in the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Biodiversity is rapidly declining both on land and in water.
Here are some eloquent figures from a new study. Man is responsible for the death of 30 to 50% of the world's forests. Two-thirds of this figure is accounted for by pastures, and only a third by arable land. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of all the environmental problems that the development of agriculture entails. At the same time, the transition to veganism could solve the vast majority of them.
When we think about environmental threats, we think of countless smokestacks in factories, oil spills on the ocean surface, mountains of rubbish, but not our own dinner plate. And, nevertheless, it is she who can become the key to preserving biodiversity on our planet.
Vegetarians are now a global minority. The list of countries with a preference for plant-based foods is topped by India, with 35 percent of the population being vegetarians. The second place is shared by Italy, Great Britain and Germany, with only 9 percent of citizens who do not include animal products in their diet. Netherlands, USA, Canada - 4%, Austria and Switzerland - 3%. The top 10 is closed by France with 1% of vegetarians.
The authors of the work are fully aware that the meat-eaters of the whole Earth will not rush to radically change their diet the next morning after getting acquainted with the results of their work, but even a small reduction in livestock products in the diet can contribute to the future of the planet. Scientists are sure that the vector of general consumption outlined by them is the only correct one.
By the way, a recent study showed that the propensity for vegetarianism is inherent in the genes of some people, and in this case it is better not to deviate from a certain diet so as not to harm your health.
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