Second year BBA Student at SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS),ASMSOC-Mumbai
The Real Impact of Veganism: Is It as Environmentally Friendly as We Think? Veganism is widely celebrated for its environmental benefits, but a closer look reveals complexities that merit attention. 🌍🔍 🔹 Monocultures: Large-scale vegan agriculture often relies on monocultures, such as soy and almonds. Monocultures can lead to significant biodiversity loss and soil degradation. For example, soy production is responsible for about 70% of deforestation in the Amazon, impacting local ecosystems and wildlife. 🔹 Global Supply Chains: Many plant-based products are imported from afar, increasing their carbon footprint. Transportation contributes up to 30% of the carbon emissions from global food supply chains. For instance, avocados from Mexico and almonds from California involve high transport emissions. 🔹 Water Usage: Some plant-based alternatives have substantial water footprints. Almond farming consumes roughly 1,900 liters of water per liter of almond milk. In contrast, producing a kilogram of beef requires about 15,000 liters of water, yet water-intensive crops can strain resources in arid regions. 🔹 Resource Efficiency: Despite these issues, plant-based diets still offer substantial environmental benefits. Switching from a meat-heavy to a varied plant-based diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%. For example, a person eating a vegan diet can save approximately 1,100 kg of CO2 emissions per year compared to a meat-eater. While veganism has its challenges, such as monocultures and high transport emissions, it remains a more sustainable option overall. Improving practices and focusing on locally sourced and less resource-intensive foods can further enhance its benefits. 🌱🌎 How are you integrating these considerations into your sustainability efforts? #Veganism #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #Monocultures #GlobalSupplyChain #WaterFootprint #PlantBased