The power of choosing a plant-forward meal

Improve air quality by reducing 3 major pollutants

Livestock production contributes to poor air quality in communities surrounding industrial farms. The most typical air pollutants found near industrial farms are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate matter, all of which have human health risks including asthma. While all community members are at risk from air pollutants, children take in 20-50% more air than adults, making them more susceptible to lung disease and health effects.

Learn more from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reduce land use by up to 86%, protecting forests and natural areas that absorb CO2

The production of animal proteins consumes 83% of the available agricultural land and generates only 18% of the total calories consumed by humans, and 37% of the protein consumed. Demand for meat drives deforestation and conversion of other natural “carbon sinks” to grazing lands which inhibits the earth’s ability to naturally absorb carbon. Plant proteins, such as beans and lentils, require far less land to produce.

Learn more from the World Resources Institute. 
 

Reduce energy use by up to 89%

Plant proteins are more energy efficient to produce than animal proteins. For example, legumes are up to 15 times more efficient than beef per gram of protein.

Learn more from Food Policy.

Reduce greenhouse gasses by up to 96%

Eating a plant-forward diet will reduce your greenhouse gas impact. Limiting animal proteins and eating more plant proteins is a delicious form of climate action you can take every day. 

Learn more from the World Resources Institute

Improve soil health so we can grow food for future generations.

Legumes like beans, peas, and lentils are not only good for our bodies, they are good for the soil we grow food in. Soil benefits include increasing soil organic matter, improving soil porosity, recycling nutrients, improving soil structure, decreasing soil pH, diversifying the microscopic life in the soil, and breaking disease build-up and weed problems of grass-type crops. As renowned botanist Albert Howard put it, "fertility of the soil is the future of civilization."

Learn more from Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Improve water quality for hundreds of communities.

Industrial livestock production pollutes ground and surface water. The primary source of pollution is manure, which can exceed large cities in volume due to the concentration of animals. Nitrates, antibiotics, and hormones can be detected in the water in surrounding communities. Elevated nitrates in drinking water can be especially harmful to infants, leading to blue baby syndrome and possible death.

Learn more from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).