Soya and sustainable development - background information
At a time when the protection of the environment and of natural resources is in everyone's mind, it's time to think of easy ways to effectively reduce our individual environmental footprint. How? Thanks to soy-based products!
The impact of eating habits on the environment: an inconvenient truth
In 2006, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) published a report entitled 'Livestock's long shadow: environmental issues and options', which highlighted that 18% of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions originated from the livestock sector. This is as high as the GHG emissions from the transport sector.
Global warming is not the only environmental consequences of livestock rearing, since water and land use are also to be taken in consideration. It is estimated that 75% of agricultural land is used for cattle, be it for pastures or for growing crops to feed the cattle.
As the demand for food will keep on increasing in the future, in 2030, we would need two planets to respond to the worldwide consumption demand.
Vegetal alternatives can help reducing meat consumption while preserving the environment
Everyone can do its part simply by reducing its consumption of animal products.
Because soy products are from vegetal origin, they have a lower environmental impact than comparable meat and dairy products. Soy products are more sustainable in terms of land use, water use and GHG emissions. Because they are a source of proteins, they can easily replace products of animal origin in the diet while contributing to reducing the impact of our food consumption on the environment. Thanks to their nutritional value, soy products are ideal as part of a healthy diet.
So just like you would chose to cycle to work instead of taking your car, just like you would hose to buy energy-efficient light-bulbs, just like you chose to wash your clothes at 30°C instead of 90°C, you can simply choose to eat more soy products!
Not only are soy products good for your health, they are also good for the Earth!
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