Modifying Our Diets

"Our data indicate that it is actually dairy product consumption that explains much of the differences in greenhouse gas footprints across diets. Yet, at the same time, nutritionists recognize the important role dairy products can have in stunting prevention."
"It would be satisfying to have a silver bullet to address carbon footprints and the impact of food production; however, with problems as complex and global as nutrition, climate change, freshwater depletion and economic development, that's not possible."
"There will always be tradeoffs."
Martin Bloem, director, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, professor of Environmental Health, Bloomberg School

Going vegetarian may not be as good for the environment as you might think

"Dietary shifts don’t have to be as draconian as many people think to have a meaningful impact on the environment."

"Our study found that in the UK, switching to a vegetarian diet that includes eggs and dairy is actually less helpful for reducing greenhouse gas emissions than a diet that includes meat, dairy and eggs for one of three meals, and is exclusively plant-based for the other two meals."
"Certain forms of beef production can significantly reduce our capacity for carbon sequestration. In particular, production that involves deforestation for feed production and grazing land has serious implications for our climate."
"Including beef in our diets at current rates would have grave consequences for the environment."
"There are many parts of the world where eating insects isn’t an outlandish idea. Based on our data, there may be great value in exploring ways to normalize this in other parts of the world."
Dr Keeve E. Nachman, Environmental Health and Engineering, John Hopkins University

Rich countries might opt for less meat — and cheese — so that poor countries can eat more, researchers find. Getty

A new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers published in the journal Global Environmental Change, analyzed the carbon footprint of nine plant-centric diets. A roster that included vegan, ovo-lacto vegetarians (vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy), pescatarian and no red meat -- in 140 countries. According to the study findings, the flexitarian diet -- cutting back on animal products -- may turn out a better commitment for the planet than would excluding meat from human diet altogether.

The study authors speak of a "two-thirds vegan" diet, which is to say, limiting animal product consumption to one meal daily, which would place a lesser strain on the environment than ovo-lacto vegetarianism in almost all of the countries studied (95 percent). Abstaining from dairy products in 64 percent of study nations resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions than ovo-lacto vegetarian diets. Veganism, however, proved to have the lightest environmental impact in almost all of the nations (97 percent).

The study examined the environmental impacts of nine plant-centric diets in 140 countries.  Getty Images

Leaving researchers to conclude that "a theoretical shift" to plant-based eating across the board would effectively see a 70 percent per person drop in food-related greenhouse gases. Diets high in vegetables and other plants, incorporating animals low on the food chain -- mollusks such as clams, oysters and scallops and small fish such as anchovies, herring and sardines -- were found by the researchers to have footprints equal to veganism. Ruminant meats -- beef, lamb and mutton, and goat were "by far" the most greenhouse gas-intensive foods.

Of the 74 foods studied, the impact of each serving of ruminant meats was found to be 40 times more acute than were pulses (beans, chickpeas, lentils), nuts, soy or seeds). Plant-based foods generally represented the least intensive while insects (crickets, mealworms) and forage fish (herring, sardines) were recognized to be "the more climate-friendly animal products, significantly more so than dairy".

According to the study authors, it is vital to understand that their findings emphasize challenges searching out universal solutions for hunger, nutritional concerns or food-related climate impacts. It is therefore, essential that circumstances of individual countries be reflected in policies.