Environmental Cost of Food

How food consumption influences the environment?

Food production is a major driver of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water and land use, and dietary risk factors are contributors to non-communicable diseases.

Food GHG emissions

In 2021, food production contributes around 37% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, demonstrating the enormous impact our diets have on climate change. Methane and carbon dioxide, for example, trap heat in the atmosphere and are a major contributor to climate change.

Global GHG emission issue

Global greenhouse gas emissions increased by 50% from 1990 to 2018, trapping heat and making the world warmer. Majority of the increase in greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere over the preceding 150 years may be attributed to human activity. There is an urgent need to curb the degradation of natural resources and to limit global warming to less than 2°C, while providing a nutritious diet to a growing and changing world population.

How can we help? -Vegan

Reductions in environmental footprints were generally proportional to the magnitude of animal-based food restriction. Shifts in dietary patterns can potentially provide benefits for both the environment and health. There was a study reveals that environmental and health benefits are possible by shifting current Western diets to a variety of more sustainable dietary patterns. For example, Vegan.

Avocado

In recent years, avocados as a popular vegan ingrediant have become synonymous with Millennial culture. Mexico as the largest producer who has the avocado production accounts for over 500,000 acres and has been steadily growing as demand for the fruit in the Global North increases. The average carbon footprint of one avocado is around 0.19 kilograms of CO2 equivalents. The same amount of beef produces 4 kilograms, lamb 3.4 kilograms and pork 1 kilogram.