Published
2022-11-21
Section
Review Article
How to Cite
Dietary Choice and Environment Impacts: A Critical Review, with special consideration to Non-Vegetarian Diets
Prashasti Keshari
Department of Chemical Engineering,, ICT Mumbai.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36664/bt/2022/v69i1/172496
Keywords: Environment impacts, GHG emissions, Carbon footprint, non-vegetarian diet, meat.
Abstract
The amendment in human lifestyle has been dramatic over the years. Food consumption and patterns have varied exponentially. According to studies, the human population is expected to rise by 25% and reach 9.9 billion by 2050. This increase will lead to a hike in meat consumption by 60% worldwide. It is projected to reach 460 million to 570 million tons of meat. The excessive growth in meat consumption and production will lead to several environmental impacts. In this paper, we will discuss changes in lifestyle and consumption patterns, energy footprints, GHG emissions of different diets, and the environmental impacts on land, water, and climate change, and animal torture. Also, we will be comparing various diets; vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous, and their impacts on the planet. The paper also focuses on the solutions regarding how we as an individual can contribute to the environment, and protect our animals and the climate by choosing better alternatives and substantially decreasing meat consumption.
Downloads
References
Foresight, The future of food and farming. Final Project Report, London: Government Office for Science (2011).
Fanzo, J., & Mattei F., Ensuring agricultural biodiversity and nutrition remain central to addressing the MDG1 hunger target. In: Burlingame, B., & Dernini, S. (editors), Sustainable diets and biodiversity: directions and solutions for policy, research and action. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization, 44-53 (2012).
Jessica, L. J., Jessica, C. F., & Bruce, C., Understanding sustainable diets: A descriptive analysis of the determinants and processes that influence diets and their impact on health, food security, and environmental sustainability. Advances in Nutrition, 5, 418-429 (2014).
Nemecek, T., Jungbluth, N., Canals, L. M. & Schenck, R., Environmental impacts of food consumption and nutrition: where are we and what is next? International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 21, 607-620 (2016).
Audsley, E., Brander, M., Chatterton, J., Murphy-Bokern, D., Webster, C., & Williams, A., How low can we go? An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the UK food system and the scope to reduce them by 2050. Food Climate Research Network & WWF, London, UK (2009).
Garnett, T., Where are the best opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the food system (including the food chain)? Food Policy, 36, S23–S32 (2011)
Bouwman, L. , Goldewijk, K. K., Hoek, K. W. V. D. , Beusen, A. H. W., Van Vuuren, D. P., Willems, J., Rufino M. C. &, Stehfest, E., Exploring global changes in nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in agriculture induced by livestock production over the 1900–2050 period. In Proc. of National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 110 (52), 20882–20887, Nov. (2013).
Godfray, H. C. J., Beddington, J. R. Crute, I. R., Haddad, L., Lawrence, D., Muir, J. F., Pretty, J., Robinson, S., Thomas, S. M. & Toulmin, C., Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People. Science, 327(5967) 812-81812 (2010).
"This Survey Found Out How Many Indians Are Non-Vegetarians And Which State Is The Least Vegetarian” June (2016). https://www.scoopwhoop.com/This-Survey-Found- Out-How-Many-IndiansAre-NonVegetarians-And- Which-State-Is-The-Least-Vegetarian/
https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/21/us-isra el-food-vegan-idUSKCN0PV1H020150721
"The slow but steady rise of vegetarianism in Australia". August (2016). http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/vegetarianism s-slow-but-steady-rise-in-australia-201608151105
"Vegetarians, vegans 'hated and bullied in Australia', author says". ABC. August (2016). http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-02/vegetarian s-vegans-hated-bullied-australia-richard cornish/7680900
“One in ten Swedes is vegetarian: survey” March (2014). http://www.thelocal.se/20140321/one-in-tenswedes -is-vegetarian-survey
"Il popolo dei vegetariani e vegani in Italia: l'infografica". http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2015/09/17/news/ il_popolo_dei_vegetariani_e_vegani_in_italia_l_inf ografica-123063811/
Linseisen, J., Welch, A. A., Ocke, M., Amiano, P., Agnoli, C., Ferrari, P., Sonestedt, E., Chajes, V., Bueno-de-Mesquita, H. B., Kaaks, R., Weikert, C., Dorronsoro, M., Rodrıguez, L., Ermini, I., Mattiello, A., van der Schouw, Y. T., Manjer, J., Nilsson, S., Jenab, M., Lund, E., Brustad, M., Halkjær, J., Jakobsen, M. U., Khaw, K. T., Crowe, F., Georgila, C., Misirli, G., Niravong, M., Touvier, M., Bingham, S., Riboli, E. & Slimani, N., Dietary fat intake in the European prospective into cancer and nutrition: results from the 24-h dietary recalls. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63, S61–S80 (2009).
Pan, A., Sun, Q., Bernstein, A. M., Schulze, M. B., Manson, J. E., Stampfer, M. J., Willett, W. C., Hu, F. B., Red meat consumption and mortality: results from 2 prospective cohort studies. Archives of Internal Medicine, 172, 555-563 (2012).
Food and Agriculture Organization, Meat and meat products. Food Outlook, June (2008).
Food and Agriculture Organization, Livestock's long shadow, environmental issues and options (2007).
“An Analysis of Changing Food Consumption Pattern in India”, National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi. http://nfsm.gov.in/
Sample registration system baseline survey (SRSBS) (2014). www.censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/BASELIN E%20TABLES07062016.pdf
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/food-and -recipes/110616/telangana-is-india-s-most-non-veg state.html
Wathes, C. M., Holden, M. R., Sneath, R. W., White R. P. & Phillips, V. R., Concentrations and emission rates of aerial ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, dust and endotoxin in UK broiler and layer houses. British Poultry Sciences, 38(1), 14-28 (1997).
IPCC, The regional impacts of climate change: An assessment of vulnerability. Cambridge University Press, U.K. (1997).
Gerbens-Leenes, P. W. & Nonhebel, S., Consumption patterns and their effects on land required for food. Ecological Economics, 42(1-2) 185-199 (2002).
United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gasesequi valencies-calculator-calculations-and-references
https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/consu mption/foods-and-beverages/world-consumption-of -meat/story
https://hbr.org/2016/04/global-demand-for-food-is-r ising-can-we-meet-it
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC70 68262/
IPCC. (1997). The regional impacts of climate change: An assessment of vulnerability Cambridge University Press. UK.
Ashutosh Kumar Choudhary , Nagendra Kumar, “ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF NON-VEGETARIAN DIET: AN OVERVIEW” IJESRT, 16 August, 2017, 6 PP. 251-257 (8). doi: 10.5281/zenodo.843908
Mukesh Kumar Mishra, “Modern Lifestyle, Non Veg Food and its Impact on Environmental Aspects”, Global Journal of HUMAN SOCIAL SCIENCE, Volume 12 Issue 7, April 2012.
