Monthly eco-challenge: Eat less meat!

Why?

The "eco-foodprint" of eating meat has been underestimated and here are just a few examples: 

• Cattle are producing 18% of all green house gases.
• 78% of all agricultural land is used for cattle (fodder and grazing).
• More than 2/3 of all agricultural production in Europe is used for fodder.
• To produce 1 kg of meat, you need 15.000 litres of water, while 1 kg of grain or potatoes only need 1.000 litres.
• Water pollution, deforestation, energy use, air pollution, loss of biodiversity, more waste and antibiotics in our food are but a few other negative effects on the environment (see the FAO document “Livestock’s Long  Shadow” for more details).
• The well-being of the animals has often been totally neglected, especially in big farming industries

What can you do?

• Eat organic meat and meat from small-scale farming where the well-being of the animals has been taken into account.
• Eat less meat and replace it with alternatives like fish (see our sustainable fish guides), beans, peas, lentils, tofu, seitan, cheese, eggs or other sources of proteine.
• Alternate between different types of meat (the bigger the animal, the more it pollutes).
• Take smaller portions of meat when you eat it and "beef up" your plate with veggies instead.
• Try out all kinds of vegetarian dishes and be creative when you barbeque.
• Join in with the Donderdag Veggie Dag ("Thursday Veggie Day", introduced in Ghent by the Ethical Vegetarian Alternative)
• Or just go vegetarian!

If you want to know more on the impact of your diet on our planet, read Jane Goodall’s “Harvest for Hope. A Guide to Mindful Eating”. The book is also sold at Sunbeams events.

This article was originally published in the June 2009 edition of the Sunbeams newsletter.