The global meat industry, a behemoth fueled by insatiable demand, casts a long shadow on our planet.

Often, we overlook the invisible costs associated with food production, such as the vast amounts of water, land, and energy required to cultivate crops and raise livestock. From deforestation and water scarcity to climate change and biodiversity loss, the environmental toll of traditional meat production is undeniable. For example, beef production, a key driver of deforestation, accounts for a staggering 41% of global deforestation, equivalent to about 2.1 million hectares annually – roughly half the size of the Netherlands.

While the initial push for plant-based meat alternatives may have been driven by ethical concerns, the environmental implications of this dietary shift are profound.

Multiple studies have found that plant-based meat is significantly better for the environment than animal meat. Here are pivotal findings, highlighting the environmental advantages of embracing plant-based meats.

1. Reduced Environmental Impact: A 2024 study by the Good Food Institute (GFI) conducted a comprehensive, ISO-certified life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the environmental impact of plant-based meat and conventional animal meat. The study found that plant-based meats can provide the same amount of protein while significantly reducing environmental impact. Plant-based meat has, on average, 91% lower impacts than beef, 88% lower impacts than pork, and 71% lower impacts than chicken.
2. Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Livestock production is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane and nitrous oxide, which are more potent than carbon dioxide. Plant-based diets lead to lower emissions because they bypass the need for livestock, which are a major source of methane from enteric fermentation and manure management. The University of Michigan conducted a comprehensive study on the Beyond Burger, showing it generates 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to a quarter-pound of U.S. beef.
3. Reduced Water Consumption: Animal agriculture is highly water-intensive. For example, According to Water Footprint Network producing 1 kg of bovine meat requires about 15,415 liters of water, in contrast, producing 1 kg of tofu, a common plant-based alternative, requires significantly less water, approximately 2,520 liters.
4. Reduced Land Use: Switching to a plant-based diet can significantly reduce the amount of land required for agriculture. Currently, nearly half (44%) of the world’s habitable land, or about 48 million square kilometers, is used for agricultural purposes. Interestingly, only half of this cropland is directly used to grow food for human consumption; the majority supports livestock through feed production and grazing. In fact, livestock farming—including meat and dairy production—accounts for 80% of all agricultural land use, while crops directly consumed by humans use only 16% of agricultural land. Research from Our World in Data suggests that adopting a plant-based diet could reduce total agricultural land use by 75%. This substantial decrease would result from needing less land for livestock grazing and feed crop cultivation. If the global population were to adopt a vegan diet, it’s projected that agricultural land could shrink from 4.1 billion hectares to about 1 billion hectares, an area roughly equivalent to the combined sizes of North America and Brazil.
5. Reduced Deforestation: Research from Our World In Data shows agricultural expansion is one of the primary drivers of deforestation, contributing to over 70% of deforestation globally. Notably, the expansion of pasture land for cattle ranching accounts for 41% of tropical deforestation, which equates to about 2.1 million hectares cleared each year, an area approximately half the size of the Netherlands. Additionally, the agricultural demand extends to crop production, where a significant portion of global soy production—77%—is used not for human consumption but as feed for livestock in meat and dairy production. Only a minor fraction, about 7%, of soy is used directly for human food products like tofu, soy milk, edamame beans, and tempeh. Contrary to popular belief, plant-based alternatives such as tofu and soy milk are not major contributors to deforestation, underscoring a widespread misconception about the impact of these foods.
6. Decreased Water Pollution: Producing plant-based meat significantly reduces water pollution compared to traditional animal-based meat. A life cycle assessment by the Good Food Institute and EarthShift Global found that plant-based meats generate 93% less water pollution than conventional animal meats. This substantial decrease is attributed to the elimination of livestock-related processes that contribute to nutrient runoff and water contamination, such as manure management and the cultivation of animal feed crops. By bypassing these stages, plant-based meat production offers a more sustainable alternative with a markedly lower impact on water ecosystems.
7. Decreased Air Pollution: Producing plant-based meat significantly reduces air pollution compared to conventional animal-based meat. A life cycle assessment by the Good Food Institute and EarthShift Global found that plant-based meats generate 89% less air pollution than traditional animal meats. By utilizing plants, fermentation, or cell cultivation instead of livestock, the production of alternative proteins eliminates the emission of toxic air pollutants—including ammonia, particulate matter, and hydrogen sulfide—that are associated with conventional meat production.
8. Promoting Biodiversity: Transitioning to plant-based meat production can significantly enhance biodiversity by reducing the extensive land use associated with conventional livestock farming. Traditional meat production occupies about 80% of global agricultural land, primarily for grazing and cultivating animal feed, yet it supplies only 18% of the world’s calories. This disproportionate land use often leads to habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Shifting to plant-based diets could free up land for rewilding and conservation, helping preserve ecosystems and species.

The environmental advantages of plant-based meat are undeniable. From reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving water to protecting biodiversity and mitigating deforestation, plant-based alternatives offer a sustainable solution to many of the ecological challenges posed by traditional meat production.