IS PLANT-BASED THE ANSWER?

Recent years have seen an explosion in the popularity and awareness of plant-based eating (the huge range of vegan protein and dairy alternatives confirms this). But is this the solution? Should we all become vegan? Research indicates that shifting to a more plant-based diet has high potential for reducing the carbon footprint of our food.

The link between the use of soya in animal feeds and the deforestation associated with some soya production is now well known, and the Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommends that we cut our consumption of meat and dairy by a third by 2050. But, as with any hotly debated topic, the answer is more complex than it might appear, and can depend on which country you live in. In the UK, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), about 46% of the foodstuff we consume is imported. So, if we were to all rely on plant-based proteins, that figure could jump as many vegan mainstays are not grown locally, while meat and dairy are. What’s more, organisations such as the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT) argue that predominantly pasture-fed livestock have a vital role to play in any regenerative, mixed-use farming system, and are essential to more sustainable farming practices.

So, when looking at both climate change and the need to feed an estimated global population of nearly 10bn by 2050, any solution will require a balanced approach – likely a diet rich in a wide range of plant-based foods (taking into account how they are farmed with a view to carbon footprint), with decreased reliance on meat, dairy and fish.