Becoming Vegetarian: The Environment

It is really cool to be “green” these days, and I think that’s great. I don’t really care that it is trendy; any inducement that gets people to recycle and conserve is ok with me. Nonetheless, for all the good that is developing out there, we don’t hear very much about the severe environmental problems associated with meat production. So I’m going to hit you with some statistics now (all from the Better World Handbook). Watch out!

• We use nearly one quarter of the Earth’s land to raise cattle. (This plays into the scarcity of food and world hunger that I will discuss later.)

• In the western U.S., cattle grazing is responsible for destroying or severely threatening more plant species than any other source and is the number one cause of soil erosion on public lands.

• Raising livestock for meat is a very inefficient use of our land. For example, one acre of land can produce: 50,000 pounds of tomatoes, 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 pounds of carrots, or only 250 pounds of beef.

• A vast amount of oil goes into meat production: it takes about one gallon of oil to produce one pound of beef.

• In addition, as water becomes scarce, it is worth noting the overwhelming amount of water that goes into meat production: it takes up to 10,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. And it takes 420 gallons of water to produce a pound of chicken. In contrast, it takes only 25 gallons of water to produce one pound of wheat.

• Hog waste is a major contributor to water pollution in a number of states. In North Carolina, for example, 2.5 tons of hog waste is produced annually for every resident.

• Overfishing has depleted or caused serious shortages in 13 of the world’s 17 major fishing grounds.

• “Animal agriculture” accounts for 80% of the world’s deforestation.

• According to a 2006 report published by the United Nations, raising livestock is one of the top contributors to environmental problems and accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions – more than transportation.

As you can see, by simply opting for a meatless meal every now and then (or permanently), you’ll be helping the planet. Get ready for the next installment, when we discuss issues of food and how our choices relate to world hunger and the scarcity of food.

Previously:

Becoming Vegetarian: An Overview

About the Author:

Jessica Shurson Banti is an attorney in Memphis, Tennessee. She likes to spend time with family and friends in addition to cooking, sewing, reading, and practicing yoga. She blogs regularly at letlightbe.blogspot.com.