The Meat Industry's Damaging Environmental Impact

Cattle Farm. Photo by UC Davis.

Growing food is no easy feat – it requires land, water, human labor, and many other types of energy. It is no wonder then that “the entire system of food production, such as the use of farming machinery, spraying of fertilizer and transportation of products, represents 35% of all global emissions.” Some types of food, however, require more energy and resources than others. The meat industry creates twice as much pollution as the production of plant-based foods, which creates a huge problem for our meat-loving society. Over 350 million tons of meat are consumed every year, and as the effects of climate change continue in a stark reality, this number needs to decrease.

What are the environmental impacts of the meat industry?

The largest portion of the meat industry is beef, and it is also the most resource-intensive type of meat to produce. Cows have a lower growth rate than pigs and poultry, so they require more feed, which requires more land to grow that feed. As well, cows create methane gas through their burps, and the methane produced by cows is twenty-eight times more potent than carbon dioxide. There is good news though. Scientists are studying how to reduce methane emissions from cows through breeding and changing the cows’ diets, and early studies have shown these methods to be successful.

Amazon deforestation. Photo by BBC News.

There is another significant impact the meat industry has on the environment – the use of land. As one could imagine, producing over 350 million tons of meat requires a significant portion of land. In fact, 30% of the Earth’s land is used to either raise farmed animals or to grow crops to feed them. This land is also overgrazed, which means that soil health and biodiversity decline. With the grass unable to grow and nourish the cows, they must move to another pasture where the cycle of overgrazing will continue.

This land is often cleared through the felling of forests, and without the forests, there are no trees to capture and store carbon. The Amazon Rainforest has suffered greatly from deforestation to turn land into pasture for cattle grazing. Although the Amazon has been disappearing for many years, the rate has now accelerated. In January 2022,166 square miles of the Amazon was deforested, which is more than seven times the size of Manhattan, New York. This is also the highest record of deforestation for the month of January, being five times the amount deforested in January 2021.

What’s the solution?

The answer to these problems isn’t necessarily to completely eliminate meat production. With 350 million tons of meat consumed a year, this solution seems unlikely. Instead, there are ways to improve efficiency of livestock production, such as reducing land usage and emissions per pound of meat. World Research Institute proposes solutions such as breeding low-methane-producing cows, rotational grazing, and improving feed quality and veterinary care. These practices can reduce the amount of methane emitted and also allow the rewilding of land.

Plant-based foods. Photo by Supermarket News.

One of the most common responses to the harmful environmental effects of meat production is to reduce or remove meat from one’s diet. Plant-based foods have become increasingly popular over the last few years, so that there is almost always a guaranteed meat-free option at a grocery store or restaurant. From 2018 to 2020, there was a 116% increase in plant-based claims on food packaging. This increase is evidence of the market rising to meet the demand of meat-free options. According to Plant Based Foods Association, “personal health, sustainability, combined with newer motivations to boost immunity, ensure food safety, and improve animal welfare are all significant drivers of plant-based foods consumption.” Consumers are learning about the harmful effects of the meat industry, and they are acting on it. And the market is listening.

As well, veganism, once a niche diet, has grown into a popular lifestyle that refuses any animal products from meat to eggs to leather. According to the Vegan Society, the number of people in the UK identifying as vegan increased by 360% from 2006 to 2016.  That number is likely to grow as more and more people search for ways to combat climate change, because “reducing meat and dairy production isn’t just a nice-to-have in the effort to avert the worst effects of climate change, it’s a significant part of the global toolbox.”

If you like to eat meat but are also concerned about the effects the meat industry has on climate change, the most important thing is to educate yourself. Even reducing your meat consumption once a week makes a significant difference. The Meatless Mondays movement advocates for removing meat from your diet one day a week – on Mondays. This once a week commitment can help consumers discover delicious plant-based recipes and also create habits that doesn’t have meat as a default for each meal.

Meat is undoubtedly a staple in the American diet, but that doesn’t mean norms can’t change. By learning more about the effects the meat industry has on the environment and adopting behavioral changes like Meatless Mondays, we can challenge these norms and hopefully create new ones.