Hungry for Change: population growth requies drastic reduction in global meat consumption

Hungry for Change A new Foresight Report, featuring contributions from 400 researchers around the world, calls for a drastic reduction in global meat consumption to help meet the food demands of the growing human population and end world hunger.

January 27, 2011

Report: Drastic Reduction in Meat Consumption Necessary to End Global Hunger

By Nathan Runkle

On Monday, a new Foresight Report titled "The future of food and farming: challenges and choices for global sustainability," featuring contributions from 400 researchers around the world, called for a drastic reduction in global meat consumption to help meet the food demands of the growing human population.

"The Foresight study shows that the food system is already failing in at least two ways. Firstly, it is unsustainable, with resources being used faster than they can be naturally replenished. Secondly, a billion people are going hungry with another billion people suffering from 'hidden hunger', whilst a billion people are over-consuming," says Professor Sir John Beddington, the British Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the Foresight research program.

The researchers indicate that grain-fed meat (particularly pigs and poultry) have "serious implications for competition for land, water and other inputs" and that "a reduction in the amount of meat consumed in high- and middle-income countries would have multiple benefits: a reduced demand for grain, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a positive effect on health." According to the study, "Dietary changes are very significant for the future food system because, per calorie, some food items (such as grain-fed meat) require considerably more resources to produce than others."

With the global population expected to grow from 6.8 billion to more than 9 billion and annual per capita meat consumption expected to rise from nearly 82 pounds today to 115 pounds by 2050, scientists say the increase in demand on food crops to feed farmed animals will lead to higher overall food costs, increased deforestation to provide land to grow farmed animal feed crops and elevated levels of greenhouse gas emissions associated with raising animals for food. Additionally, the researchers conclude that a global shift to organic food production may only meet future food demands if combined with a "major shift in consumer diets," a tax on livestock production and other "proactive measures" to reduce global meat consumption.

As if improving one's personal health, helping spare animals from needless suffering andprotecting the planet from environmental destruction weren't compelling enough, another important reason to transition to a healthy vegan lifestyle is to help stave off global starvation and hunger. Luckily, making the switch to a plant-based lifestyle can be easy and delicious. VisitChooseVeg.com for tips and recipes to help you get started on a path toward a more compassionate and sustainable future.

Tags:

• animal advocacy,
• animal protection,
• animal rights,
• animal welfare,
• british government,
• chief scientific adviser,
• dairy,
• eggs,
• factory farming,
• forseight study,
• future of food and farming,
• greenhouse gas,
• healthy diet,
• meat,
• mercy for animals,
• mfa,
• pig,
• plant based diet,
• pork,
• poultry

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