Environmental Cost of Protein
When you buy protein,
whether plant or animal based, do you think about the environmental costs that
go into the production of that protein? Even plant based protein has some
environmental cost. The greenhouse gas emissions from mass processing of
protein continue to rise with the increased global demand for animal based
protein. Livestock production requires feed and to grow that feed requires the
use of fertilizers, particularly nitrogen fertilizers. The use of the nitrogen
fertilizers contributes to an increase in nitrous oxide, one of the main
greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Production of feed also
releases carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gases. Even the manure produced contributes nitrous
oxide to the environment along with the animals themselves emitting methane.
A 2011
study by the Environmental Working Group assessed the impacts of 20 popular
types of meat, fish, dairy and vegetable proteins. The study looked at the
“cradle-to-grave” carbon footprint of each protein type based on the greenhouse
gas emissions generated before and after the protein left the farm. They
calculated emissions that included the fertilizer used to grow the animal feed,
animal processing, transportation, as well as the emissions from cooking. It
was found in the study that lamb, beef, cheese, pork and farmed salmon generated
the most greenhouse gases.
While it may be
impossible to completely cut animal based protein from our diets we can all try
and reduce our intake. That will in turn reduce demand of animal based protein
and thus lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Figure 1. Full Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Common Proteins and Vegetables
Sources:
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