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THE STORY

# CONTRIBUTION OF VEGETARIANS

TO THE ENVIRONMENT

In addition to health benefits due explanation is simple: animal food Future of Food Programme attempted
to lower saturated fat and cholesterol production is undeniably more harmful to model the impact if everyone were to
levels, which reduce the risk of heart to the environment, particularly become vegetarian by 2050. The results
disease, vegetarianism also makes a regarding greenhouse gas emissions. indicated that significantly reducing red
significant contribution to environmental Data shows that food production meat consumption could help lower the
sustainability. This is because a plant-based accounts for about a quarter to a third greenhouse gases causing climate change
diet requires fewer resources, produces less of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas by 60%; if the world were to become
greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes emissions worldwide, with much of this vegan, the emissions could decrease even
less to deforestation and habitat loss. burden stemming from the livestock more, by up to 70%. This figure is difficult
According to Andrew Jarvis from industry. A concrete example is that an to achieve even with today’s technological
Colombia’s International Centre for average family of four can produce more advancements. Food, especially that
Tropical Agriculture, research indicates greenhouse gases from the meat they from livestock, is known to be a source of
that vegetarianism has a substantial consume than from driving two cars. greenhouse gas emissions due to land
impact on the environment and the Moreover, research by Marco conversion and biodiversity loss caused by
well-being of future generations. The Springmann from Oxford Martin School’s animal farming. n

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