According to a study published this spring, if we replaced just one fifth of the red meat we eat with something else, we could reduce annual deforestation by over half.
Climate scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research have created four scenarios in which humans replace red meat with a low- calories, high-fiber product that is already part of our diet. The researchers looked at how the change in diet might affect the world's forests.
Almost all of the 10 million hectares of forest that the planet loses each year is tropical forest and most of it is driven by agricultural expansion. Climate imbalances, desertification and water scarcity, greenhouse gas emissions, flooding and erosion are all caused by deforestation.
The study found that if we replaced 20% of our meat with microbes, the rate of deforestation could be halved and carbon emissions could be reduced. The authors of a separate study on the food source's efficiency say that microbial foods are more efficient than staple crops. Less than 20% of the world's calories are produced by livestock, which takes up 80% of the world's agricultural land. As the population grows towards a projected 9.7 billion people by the year 2050, the mushroom-adjacent proteins could play an important role in addressing the challenges of climate change and food security.
Meat replacements made from lab-cultured animal cells, plants, andMicrobes are popular with the public. According to IPES- Food, the meat substitute market is expected to increase from $4.2 billion in 2020 to $28 billion in 25 years. Colorado-based Meati and California-based Prime Roots are two of the new companies betting on the future of meat.
Reduction of red meat in our diet is a net positive regardless of what vegetarian option we replace it with. According to market research, the proportion of people who practice flexitarianism rose from 28% to 39% in the past two years. Scientists determined a few years ago that if we all just meet our basic nutrition recommendations, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 29% by the year 2050.
It's easy to limit red meat, but it can be hard to convince millions to change their diet. Despite the fact that many people are concerned about climate change, only a small percentage of people are likely to reduce their meat consumption.
It is the responsibility of businesses and governments to deal with the climate crises, according to the widespread belief. After all, business and government must do more to support a climate secure future, and world leaders did pledge to end deforestation by 2030.
A similar pledge was made at the summit in 2014, but it didn't work out, and with 65% of Americans saying the federal government is doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change, it can be both effective and empowering for individuals to make simple, green lifestyle changes to help mitigate
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