Want to Save the World? By Michelle Abate Did you know that your diet can have a more powerful impact on the environment than recycling all your papers, turning off the faucet when you brush, and buying a Prius? The livestock industry alone contributes more global greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation industry combined.1 With meat production expected to double by 2050, as the population increases and developing countries are starting to embrace meat-based diets, there is cause for concern. But small dietary changes can make a huge difference. How does meat affect the environment?  Greenhouse Gases: The FAO report, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, estimates 18% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the livestock industry, as factory farming requires much more energy than plant-based farming.2 This is more than the entire transportation industry combined. A UK report found that when people reduced their meat consumption by 50%, it reduced Green House Gas emissions by 19%.3 Livestock are usually kept indoors, requiring excessive energy for feeding, transportation, ventilation, etc. Livestock also produce natural gases such as methane, which is over 20 times more potent to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, which is 296 times more potent.2 In addition, 17% of the fossil fuels in the US are used to sustain the meat industry.4  Land degradation: Deforestation to make room for livestock grazing is increasing rapidly. Livestock animals cover one-third of Earth’s land. This is responsible for 70% of deforestation in the Amazon region.2 Overgrazing has led to extinct species and soil erosion, and overfishing has led to marine extinction and ecological destruction. Topsoil loss is another huge concern, as 90% of US cropland is losing soil at 13 times the rate of what is considered sustainable.6 It takes about 500 years to replace just one inch of topsoil.7 In the same UK study, the 50% reduction in livestock products resulted in a 42% reduction in land use.3  Feed: Consuming livestock is the most inefficient way for us to obtain energy. About 50% of corn and 80% of soy grown worldwide are fed to livestock. The FAO reports that the US alone produces enough livestock food to feed 10 billion people.4 With farm animals outnumbering humans by over 5 times, the amount of grains needed to sustain livestock is more than enough to end hunger for the almost one billion malnourished people worldwide, commonly due to diminished land, water, and energy resources.  Water Waste: It takes about 2,500 gallons of water to produce just one pound of beef. 2,000 for butter, 660 for chicken, 220 for tofu, 180 for whole wheat, and less than 50 for most fruits and vegetables.5 The US food production system uses about 80% of our freshwater for the livestock industry.6 Our freshwater is a finite resource and is steadily decreasing. In terms of protein, it takes 100 times more water to produce 1 kg of animal protein than grain protein.5  Animal Waste: Factory farms use some animal wastes as fertilizer, but the amount of waste produced is much more than the soil can utilize, and the waste runs into local waterways. This not only kills wildlife, but can kill and sicken people living in areas surrounding these farms. Factory farming waste is the leading cause of waterway pollution, accounting for more than all other industrial sources combined.2

How can You Help? UMass #1 Dining makes adopting a plant-based diet incredibly easy!  Plant-Based Diets: Plant-based diets embrace whole grains, seeds, nuts, legumes, fruits and veggies. Making small changes to eat less meat or even adopting a vegetarian diet are great ways to help the planet, and transitioning to a vegan diet is the best way to lower your carbon footprint. As a former meat-loving carnivore, I can attest to how gratifying it has been switching to a vegan diet here at UMass.  UMass Dining: All 4 UMass dining halls offer delicious vegetarian options. YCMP locations like the Hatch also have veg options like a noodle bowl with tofu! Also check out the student-run Earthfoods in the campus center which has locally-sourced vegetarian and vegan entrees for lunch Monday through Friday. Check out their Facebook page for weekly menus at https://www.facebook.com/EarthfoodsCafe?ref=br_tf.

 Be a Localvore: If you are going to buy animal products, it is much better for the environment to get it from your local farms and make your farmers happy! One dollar spent at your farmer’s market is one less spent towards unsustainable factory farming. Luckily UMass supports several local farms including Czajakowski Farm, Mapleline Farm, Pete and Gerry’s Eggs, Diemand Farm, and UMass Student Farming Enterprise.  Eat Seasonally: Knowing when which fruits and veggies are in season not only helps local farmers, but it significantly reduces how far your food has to travel to get to your plate!  Grow your Own: It’s not for everyone, but consider trying your hand at gardening some of your own favorite fruits and veggies! Health as a Beneficial Side Effect  Disease: Not only do vegetarians and vegans have longer average lifespans than meat eaters, but they also have significantly lower risks for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, and obesity. This may be due to the high amounts of saturated fats and sodium in meat products, and an increase in consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Protein: The average American consumes considerably more protein than they need. An active adult only requires 0.36g protein per pound body weight. Athletes need about .455g/lb, and even body builders only need about .55g/lb. The average meat-eater consumes about 112 g protein per day, while the average lacto-ovo vegetarian consumes 89 g per day. Both of these amounts are much more than the adult RDA of 56 g protein per day for males.6 By incorporating legumes, whole grains, and meatless protein sources such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan, it is easy to get substantial protein without any animal products.  Favorite Foods: Whatever you think you might miss from your current diet, there is a vegan alternative that tastes almost identical and is healthier for you! Ice cream, chicken nuggets, pizza, spicy sausages, and even pot roasts are available in delicious meatless varieties. Even if you can’t commit to a fully vegan diet, any lifestyle changes that reduce your overall meat intake are helping! Do You Know any of these Famous Plant-Eaters?

 Ellen DeGeneres, Al Gore, Anna Nicole Smith, Anne Hathaway, Avril Lavigne, Benji Madden, Betty White, Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Brandy, Buddha, Carrie Underwood, Cesar Chavez, Christian Bale, Demi Lovato, Diana Argon, Gandhi, Gavin Rossdale, George Harrison, Natalie Portman, Mike Tyson, Usher, Russell Brand, Paul McCarthy, Ricky Williams, and Mac Danzig.

References 1. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Global greenhouse gas emissions data. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html. Accessed December 2013. 2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2006a) Livestock’s long shadow: environmental issues and options. http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a0701e/a0701e00.htm 3. Scarborough P, Allender S, Clarke D, et al. Modelling the health impact of environmentally sustainable dietary scenarios in the UK. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2012;66(6) 4. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Global Hunger Declining, But Still Unacceptably High www.fao.org, Sep. 2010 5. Kreith M. Water Inputs in California Food Production. Water Education Foundation.1991 6. Pimentel D, Pimentel M. Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78(3):6605-6635 7. Pimentel D, Kounang N. Ecology of soil erosion in ecosystems. Ecosystems. 1998;1:416– 26