I recently read an article about whether plant-based is as good for the environment as the vegans argue it is.

The article showed, for example, the monoculture of almonds, the food miles of avocados, and the habitat destruction of palm oil. 

Let’s make one thing very clear. The destruction of the environment from animal agriculture is many times worse than the plant-based movement.

Yes, we will get the monocultural growing of plants. Over the past two decades, soy production has experienced a significant increase, more than doubling its output. This growth has come at a cost, as the unsustainable conversion of forests, savannahs, and grasslands into agricultural land poses a serious threat to wildlife and ecosystems while also jeopardizing the traditional livelihoods of local communities.

However, it’s worth noting that approximately 80% of the global soybean crop is dedicated to livestock feed, particularly for the production of beef, poultry, eggs, and dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yoghurt. Additionally, soybean oil plays a vital role in cooking and can be found in a wide range of consumer products, including margarine, chocolate, ice cream, baked goods, cosmetics, and soaps.

Did you know there are more than 23 billion chickens, turkeys and other poultry that are the largest crop-fed animals, followed closely by the pig industry?

Back in 1997, Cornell University did a study and found that the US could feed 800 million people with the grain fed to livestock. That was 26 years ago. In that period, meat production rose from just under 200 million tons to over 350 million tons worldwide. This has put massive pressure on our natural resources. Although the meat market is taking a hit from plant-based production, it is far from enough and, in fact, the forecast is for further growth.

If that’s the case, then expect further destruction from growing feed to service animal agriculture.

Let’s look at deforestation.

More habitat destruction is created by animal agriculture, both in growing plants for feed and creating grazing land to try to keep up with demand.

Most people believe that deforestation is caused by palm oil, and that’s exactly what big ag wants you to think. Palm oil is grown in the forests in Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, and it’s a problem BUT not as big a one as in the Amazon rain forest where the number one reason for deforestation is animal ranching and growing food for the animals in feedlots.

All you have to do is take a look at the numbers.

In the Amazon, around 36 football fields of forests are hacked, burned, and destroyed every minute. With each forest clearing, we lose about 135 species of animals, plants, and insects a day.

These numbers will lessen if the new government in Brazil has its way.

Surprisingly, palm oil can be grown sustainably and ethically, and some corporations are now stepping up.

Animal agriculture is not sustainable. Even if we were to cap the numbers right now, we’re still going to continue to destroy the environment from the pollution it causes.

It doesn’t have to be that way. It’s been proven that the rainforest will regenerate over time, as in Costa Rica.

Growing plants for humans can be done in various ways – Greenhouses, hydroponics, permaculture (food forests), edible landscapes, container gardens, vertical gardens, and even community gardens in the city environment are brilliant.

One thing is certain when it comes to feeding the world: plant-based food wins hands down as being more sustainable and environmentally friendlier than animal agriculture.

Yes, we will have monocultures with the almonds and avocado farms, but I am convinced it will be much better than how the planet is being destroyed by animal ag. Plus – we’ll see a lot more organic and permaculture types of farming once the farmers see the benefits of growing this way.

For the past few years, UN experts have said that switching to a plant-based diet can help climate change. A major report on land use and climate change says the West’s high consumption of meat and dairy produce is fuelling global warming. They said that more people could be fed using less land if individuals cut down on eating meat.

Isn’t time we face the elephant in the room and face the fact that our consumption of animal flesh and secretions is damaging our environment far more than the almonds and avocados?

Until next time…