SOCIAL VEGANS AVOID 'MEET'

American diets (and Western diets in general) tend to lean towards the 'meat lover' on the scale of things (although developing countries are catching up too). 

Where do you think you fit in with the five categories below?

For each of the diets, the results are based on food supply, so it does not take into account the way consumers store and transport the foods. (The methodology for this can be found here.) 

"Reducing the intake of meat and other animal based products can make a valuable contribution to climate change mitigation, other work has demonstrated other environmental and health benefits of a reduced meat diet. National governments that are considering an update of dietary recommendations in order to define a 'healthy, sustainable diet' must incorporate the recommendation to lower the consumption of animal-based products."

Currently, vegetarianism as depicted above, is very high in parts of India with 375 millions of vegetarians. This may be as a direct result of their culture and religion and traditional ideologies in India. On the other hand, those in Western countries like USA and the EU are lagging far behind India with only a few million vegetarians/vegans.

In the average diet animal products make up 60% of emissions despite accounting for just a quarter of food energy.

For the Meat Lover beef consumption causes almost half of emissions from just a tenth of food energy.

In the No Beef diet all the reductions from the Average foodprint come by switching  from beef to chicken.

The difference between the Vegetarian and Vegan diets arises from dairy consumption being switched to a mix of cereals and vegetables.

This data really shocked me, so I thought I had to share it with you! Science shows that becoming vegan is the best way to save our planet and fight global warming. According to the official handbook for Live Earth, reports show that not eating meat is the “single most effective thing you can do.” However, it is very beneficial to precisely lay out the foodprints to get a clearer picture of how one does not have to specifically make the full commitment like those individuals in the Vegucated documentary did. By just substituting a few of the foods you eat most, to foods that produce lower carbon emissions, one can still make a big difference to the environment. The website explains this perfectly;

A Vegetarian’s foodprint is about two thirds of the average American and almost half that of a meat lover. For a Vegan it is even lower. But perhaps most interestingly, eating chicken instead of beef cuts a quarter of emissions in one simple step.

On a happy note, it seems there is definitely a growing portion of the global population who are interested in vegetarian benefits. Below is a chart of page views on Wikipedia for the pages on "Vegetarianism" and "Veganism".

Another incentive to substitute beef with chicken; production of poultry is much cheaper since they take up less space and are more efficient to feed than other livestock. 

So, you will be saving money too!

Happy Meatless Monday! Tune in NEXT MONDAY for THE FINAL POST!

A LITTLE TASTE OF THE OTHER SIDE

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Thought I'd leave a lighter post for you all to read in the New Year's so let's take a look behind the scenes of your favourite meal at your favourite restaurant. What are the responsibilities of chefs and how are they related to improving social awareness of what is 'good' for you and what is 'bad'?

The Social Responsibilities of Chefs:

http://elitedaily.com/life/culture/social-responsibility-chefs-consumers/618763/

COUNTRIES COMPARED

Today we will be focusing on the worldwide meat production and consumption.

If you were interested in the previous post (the table with a breakdown of meat and milk consumption per country/region) here is a more comprehensive review of the meat production and consumption for ya! 

For those who prefer a more visual breakdown;

1) Worldwide Meat Production

The production of meats in USA and Europe is increasing, however this is equally matched by increasing prices due to the high costs associated to livestock production. However, pigs and poultry are doing well in the market since both species do not need a lot of feed and can be kept in confined spaces.

2) Top Ten International Meat Industry:

Four out of the ten are based in the US; Cargill, Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and Hormel Foods. Three are located in Brazil; JBS, BRF and Marfrig. The rest are in Denmark, Netherlands and Japan.

Looking more carefully at the estimated meat consumption and the forecast, it seems that the increasing meat trend may not be so applicable to all countries.

3) Demand in the rich world

This may actually reflect on the fact that the 'richer' may be positively correlated to being more 'educated' and thus may be seeing a reduction in meat consumption. Despite this, only in less than half of the cases shown in the diagram above, shows a decline in meat consumption. Even so, the decline is very minimal and would be outweighed by the increases in meat demand. For example, by 2020, China's poultry production will increase by 37%, Brazil's will increase 28% and U.S. will increase by 16%. Nevertheless, the fact that there are forecasts for some countries lowering their meat demand is a good sign and goes to show that perhaps we can turn the tables.

Having identified and compared the different meat consumption patterns of different countries, we will proceed to look more carefully into specific regions in future posts!

Happy Meatless Monday! Tune in next Monday for a new FUN MYSTERY POST! Look forward to it!

MAYBE WE'RE WRONG? NITROUS OXIDE DEBATE

Nitrous oxide is about 300 times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide. According to the U.N., the meat, egg, and dairy industries account for a staggering 65 percent of worldwide nitrous oxide emissions.

Nitrous oxide has been pinpointed as third most important contributor to global warming. Extensive research shows that large quantities of nitrous oxide is emitted as a result of livestock. This is evident in numerous scientific literature such as in the Soil Biology and Biochemistry journal, page 597, 'Nitrous Oxide Emissions from soils due to inputs of nitrogen from excreta returned by livestock on grazed grassland in the UK.'

There are also very detailed explanations on the N₂O emission calculations for each component of livestock production systems, i.e. animal houses, manure stores, following application of manures to land and during grazing in 'Atmospheric Environment', under 'A UK inventory of nitrous oxide emissions from farmed livestock'. If you are interested in the statistics related to each of these stages in the livestock production, head over HERE!

Naturally, nitrous oxide is emitted. This can be seen in the nitrogen cycle as shown below:

The actual nitrous oxide is emitted through feed production and the management of the manure. The former occurs due to the nitrogen based fertilisers used in the soil which leads to nitrous oxide releasing in the atmosphere.

According to new research however, Professor Klaus Butterbach-Bahl from the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of the KIT Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen said, 'this was a big error'.

Founded by scientists from the Atmospheric Environmental Research Division of the KIT Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, studies in China show that livestock breeding does not lead to an increase in nitrous oxide. “In fact, areas not used for livestock breeding emit much larger amounts of nitrous oxide over the year.” 

The website also states that nitrous oxide emissions have been overestimated by 72%.

Supported by the 'Nature study' shows evidence pointing towards the link between grazing and the reduction in nitrous oxide emissions in some areas. 

Despite this opposing view on whether livestock is the root cause of nitrous oxide emissions or not, increasing nitrous oxide in the atmosphere is still a fact, and nitrous oxide is being emitted due to human-related agricultural factors.

Furthermore, Authors of the paper, published in Nature, say the research does not mean that producing livestock to eat is good for the environment in all countries. However in certain circumstances, it can be better for global warming to let animals graze on grassland.

What do you think?

Happy Meatless Monday! Tune in next Monday for a new post on Water Usage

HOW TO TRAIN A RUMINANT

Methane (CH4)  is emitted naturally and through human sources. Natural sources make up 36% of all Methane emissions and this includes wetlands, turmite and the oceans. The remainder is emitted via human activities; this includes landfills, livestock farming and use of fossil fuels. Methane can be removed from the atmosphere through natural processes in soil. But for a long time now human activities have been creating methane emissions much more rapidly than the Earth can remove them, increasing global methane levels.

Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is shorter than carbon dioxide, but "animals produce 37 percent of methane, which has more than 20 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide."  Additionally, as shown in the pie chart below, the human sources of methane are predominantly due to livestock farming and fossil fuel production. This is indicative of the importance and detrimental impact of methane emissions.

So how exactly do livestock emit methane?

If you want the short answer to how animals emit methane, look no further, we do it all the time: burps, farts and breathing.

No kidding.

And the long answer goes like this.

Cows come under a the mammal group called ruminants which acquire nutrients from plant based products. They have four stomachs; where the food is digested. The stomach is filled with bacteria, and when food is digested, methane is also manufactured in the process. 
(If only I had four stomachs...)

Furthermore, in the animal manure storage tanks, methane is produced. Imagine the extent of methane produced;

• Britain has millions of ruminants, including 10 million cows. Cows contribute 3 percent of Britain's overall greenhouse gas emissions and 25 to 30 percent of its methane.
• Methane is the second most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted in the United States from human activities. In 2012, CH4 accounted for about 9% of all U.S.greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. 

Globally, over 60% of total CH4 emissions come from human activities.

How to train a ruminant:

Give your cow some garlic to reduce methane emissions, apparently...

A three-year study, begun in April 2007 by Welsh scientists, is examining if adding garlic to cow feed can reduce their methane production. The study is ongoing, but early results indicate that garlic cuts cow flatulence in half by attacking methane-producing microbes living in cows' stomachs [Source: BBC News]. The researchers are also looking to see if the addition of garlic affects the quality of the meat or milk produced and even if the animals get BAD BREATH.

Happy Meatless Monday! Tune in next Monday for a new post on Nitrous Oxide emissions.

TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS, PLEASE HOLD YOUR BREATH

Joke.

I sincerely hope it wasn't too late to say the title was a joke...

A lot of us (including me) are clouded by the idea that by recycling every last bit of recyclable material, not driving at all, using alternative energy sources and growing plants in your back garden can do a whole lot in reducing carbon dioxide, thus keeping climate change to a minimum. I mean, every time I scolded my sister for leaving the light on without needing it made me feel like a saint. (Why so serious?) My parents even considered changing to a hybrid car!

Have you changed to a hybrid car?

Did you know?

"You could exchange your “regular” car for a hybrid Toyota Prius and, by doing so, prevent about 1 ton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year, but according to the University of Chicago, being vegan is more effective in the fight against global warming; a vegan is responsible for the release of approximately 1.5 fewer tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year than is a meat-eater."

Well, we are not entirely wrong in thinking this can help us curb climate change. Although these measures are contributing to the improvement of the lives of impending generations, it is worth looking into the bigger picture and the major driver of the actual problem.

Allow me some time to break down precisely why our world is a bombshell that is about to explode.

What is global warming?

Global warming is caused by the mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These are the three main causes of climate change. Not enough of us realise that animal agriculture is one of the largest contributor to global warming through the immense carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions.

How does animal agriculture lead to increases in CO2?

"Producing one calorie from animal protein requires 11 times as much fossil fuel input—releasing 11 times as much carbon dioxide—as does producing a calorie from plant protein. Feeding massive amounts of grain and water to farmed animals and then killing them and processing, transporting, and storing their flesh is extremely energy-intensive"

Below is a break down of the steps in animal agriculture which require high amounts of energy and thus releases a lot of CO2 (Taken from Get Vegucated Documentary):

FUN FACT:

Animal manure releases CO2 as well.

If you're into tables and figures, there is a cohesive break down of CO2 emitted in grams per kilograms of food from its production, according to timeforchange.org.

CO2-Emissions (in g CO2e per kg food):

Food group	Food	CO2-Emissions (in g per kg food)
Meat and sausages	Beef	13'300
	Raw sausages	8'000
	Ham (pork)	4'800
	Poeltry	3'500
	Pork	3'250
Milk- and dairy products	Butter	23'800
	Hard cheese	8'500
	Cream	7'600
	Eggs	1'950
	Quark (curd)	1'950
	Farmer cheese	1'950
	Margarine	1'350
	Yogurt	1'250
	Milk	950
Fruits	Apples	550
	Strawberries	300
Baked goods	Brown bread	750
	White bread	650

We can also break this down by looking at carbon dioxide emissions per calorie:

As we can see, in both instances, the carbon dioxide emissions of foods differ according to its process of production, but it is also very clear that despite different measures; meat and particularly beef has the biggest impact on the environment due to its highest carbon dioxide emissions. 

Thus perhaps we should all think twice about what we consume and the amount we consume, as much as how much energy we use/waste!

P.S. If you live in the US, please don't forget to participate in Food Day on 24th of this month! http://www.foodday.org/about

P.S.S. Food Day inspires Americans to change their diets and our food policies. Every October 24, thousands of events all around the country bring Americans together to celebrate and enjoy real food and to push for improved food policies.

Happy Meatless Monday! 

Tune in next Monday for a new post on Methane emissions!

MEET THE MEAT CULTURE!

In the developing world, people eat about 30 kilograms of meat a year. But consumers in the industrial world eat more than 80 kilograms per person each year. - World Watch Institute


Why is the livestock sector so important?

• The livestock sector accounts for 40% of agricultural GDP
• It employs 1.3 billion people
• 1/3 of humanity's protein intake is provided by livestock
• Meat consumption contributes to the cause of obesity
• However, it could also rectify undernourishment

It's easy to just follow the crowd. It's easy to blame the society and its norms, whether they're putting pressure on us, or restricting us. 

How did the meat culture start?

When human beings moved out of the equatorial areas where plant foods were unavailable year round, humans began to hunt for their food. This meant that meat consumption was necessary for survival. This was mainly in the periods of severe droughts or in seasons where crops cannot grow.

Eventually, the consumption of meat became almost part of the culture in those countries. As a result, meat consumption has integrated into these people's lives and so humans began to eat it anyway; because it was cultural and had a deeper meaning. (Taken from Get Vegucated Documentary)

 
However, now we can have access to plant food year round due to improved technology to allow imports, why do we continue to eat meat unnecessarily?


 

The fact is, when something is 'trendy', that thing becomes unnecessarily popular and essentially desirable; often without reason.

As our fellow friends, the Economists would say, a trend is a reason for an increase in demand for a product. Consequently leading to an increase in supply for the product, shifting the equilibrium, and thus increasing quantity (and sometimes the price).

Remember our dear burger?

This worldwide consumer trend, (in the Google Trends screenshot in previous post) has contributed to the overall increase in demand for meat. Of course, there are other underlying reasons for higher meat demand over the years too, such as higher incomes and more efficient transportation methods.

As shown below, the world meat production has been increasing at a very high rate;

 

Global meat production increased by 2.6 percent in 2010 to 290.6 million tons, an increase from the 0.8 percent growth rate of 2009. Even with this minimal increase, however, worldwide meat production has tripled since the 1970s. The increase continutes the steady growth of the past decade. Since 2000, global meat production has risen by 20 percent.

But why are humans becoming more and more carnivorous?

 

1) Countries becoming wealthier
 
 The consumption of meat and the level of income are positively correlated. Meat and dairy are replacing staple foods due to higher incomes and wealth.

 
 
World Watch Institute, written in 'Meat Production Continues to Rise',
 

"Experts predict that by 2050 nearly twice as much meat will be produced as today, for a prejected total of more than 465 million tons. For more than a decade, the strongest increases in production have been in the developed world in 1995 more meat and dairy products were produced in developing than in industrial countries for the first time, and this trend has continues ever since. In fact in 2007, at least 60 percent of meat was produced in developing nations."

 
2) Population growth
 
With the population growing exponentially, humans need to find more resources to ensure survival. 
 
 
3) Urbanisation
 

"Urbanisation stimulates improvements in infrastructure, including cold chains, which permit trade in perishable goods."

4) Developing countries

Due to the declining prices in developing countries, the average family is more willing and able to have meat in their diets and thus meat consumption has increased. Furthermore, the idea that meat is a luxury food product is causing the food palette to change from cheaper foods (like vegetables) to meat. 

Just because of natural human behaviour; to have the desire to jump on the bandwagon, and want to be seen as desirable by our peers, meat production has become a growing industry.

In effect, its digging our own graves and the graves of our future.


IF WE'RE NOT DEMANDING IT... THERE IS NO NEED TO PRODUCE IT.

   

Happy Meatless Monday! 

Tune in next Monday for a new post on the effect of animal agriculture on global warming.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE "FOODIES"

Dear "Foodies",

We met at a fast food restaurant, a friend's house, in a convenience store, wherever, you chose me, out of an array of colourful options.

You took pride in the 100+ likes you gained on Instagram from photos with me. 

You devoured every moment with me, because I was there when you were lonely, and I was there when you had a great night with your best friends. I've seen you in all your glory, celebrations for passing your exams, crying over the friend who betrayed you, and being sick on your bathroom floor after a night out. 

So it began like that. I set out to lure you in, and now you're determined for more.

Ultimately, I'm so glad I'm the latest trend. Because quite frankly, people used to neglect us quite a bit.

A sincere thank you, for choosing me.

I look foward to seeing you very soon,
Your favourite,

MOUTHWATERING JUICY BURGER (with extra mature cheddar cheese, gherkins, extra layer of meat, jalapeno, mushrooms, pickles, tomato sauce, mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelised onions, chilli, spinach, bacon, fried egg, and more cheese, with my dear friend, fries and the handful of salad that no one seems to touch.)

---------------------

Having been taken by storm with the burger boom, with over 3million posts with the hashtag #burger on Instagram up to date, humans are craving every type of burger out there in every corner of the globe.  This is evident by just searching the term 'burger' in Google Trends, which portrays the ever increasing interest in burgers and its popularity in a variety of countries.

Global production of meat is forecasted to more than double from 229 million tonnes in 1999/01 to 465 million tonnes in 2050. The environmental impact per unit of livestock production must be cut by half, just to avoid increasing the level of damage beyond its present level.


With entrepreneurs taking this opportunity to exploit this trend, crazy burger ideas have been brought to the market, such as the 'Glamburger' costing an arm and a leg (in other words, £1,100) in Chelsea, in exchange for the most extravagant ingredients which include black truffle, Himalayan salt and a gold leaf.

Ultimately, "burgers are culinary survivors: They can adapt no matter where mainstream tastes flow." The burger trend can evolve in ways to ensure its survival with new trendy ingredients.

After this introduction, you may be seduced by the idea of reaching for a big juicy burger whilst you finish reading this post, perhaps its worth stopping for a minute to realise the real value of what you're eating.

Yes, we've been there, taught that. Burgers (and pizza, chips, soda bla bla bla) are bad for your health, don't eat them. Well, we all thought we're old enough to deal with what we put into our bodies, and lets face it, all this controversy is only applicable to small kids who can't control themselves.

Wrong.

In the traditional sense, yes, burgers are bad for you. Too much fat, sodium and whatnot.

But on a macro level, eating burgers (and meat in general for that matter) is harming the earth. How so, you ask.

A report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) cited livestock production as "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." 

"The environmental damage by the livestock sector goes far beyond the sector; it also goes beyond agriculture."

DID YOU KNOW? 

Livestock production accounts for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions; more than the world's cars and SUV's combined.

When put into perspective, those juicy addictive burgers are no longer just a health risk but a risk to the world. 

The consumption of meat is a huge interest to me personally, as I have always lived under the impression that a bit of meat is good for the body and have never thought twice about how it could be harmful to the environment. Being a 'good human' (if I should say so myself), recycling where possible, walking instead of driving a car and even keeping food waste as compost made me think I was putting in more than my two cents, surely! After reading more on meat consumption, I have become intrigued in the scientific journals that point to the harmful effects on the planet.

Throughout this blog, I will be providing more information regarding meat consumption, its impacts and potential effects on global warming and other environmental impacts as a consequence of meat production. 

Make sure to come back to check for the latest posts!

Happy Meatless Monday!

Tune in next Monday for a new post on the origins of the meat trend!