Americans are eating more meat than ever:
The world is producing more meat than ever:
Globally, cattle meat production has more than doubled since 1961. This is terrible for the planet. For one thing, cattle are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock farming is responsible for 14.5% of the world's greenhouse emissions, of which 65% comes from beef and dairy cattle. Check it out:
Plus, cattle require lots of land:
Habitat loss is the biggest threat to biodiversity and endangered species on the planet. Clearing land for agriculture is the principal cause of habitat destruction. Most agricultural land is used for livestock, mainly sheep and cattle. While it would be great if people ate less red meat, progress on that front is going slowly. We’ve also got to increase the productivity of livestock farming so that less land is required for that purpose.
Next: Ways to reduce livestock-related land-use (grazing and growing feed).
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* “Disappearance” is USDA-speak for consumption. The idea is that the food product “disappears” into the market.
References:
Clark, M., & Tilman, D. (2017). "Comparative analysis of environmental impacts of agricultural production systems, agricultural input efficiency, and food choice" Environmental Research Letters, Vol. 12, No. 6.
"Meat and Seafood Production & Consumption" by Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser, Our World in Data August 2017.
“Per Capita Red Meat and Poultry Disappearance: Insights Into Its Steady Growth” Keithly Jones, Mildred Haley, and Alex Melton. Amber Waves, US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. June 04, 2018.
"Veggies May Be Healthier, But In 2018, Americans Will Eat A Record Amount Of Meat" Michelle Maynard/Forbes January 2, 2018