Red meat may be one of many Americans’ favorite dishes, but livestock production, especially beef production, has devastating effects on the environment.
A recent study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsfound that global livestock production is one of the leading causes of global warming, emitting more harmful greenhouse gases than the entiretransportation industry.
American consumption of livestock is among the highest in the world. On average, Americans eat 270 pounds of red meat annually, a monstrous number compared to the four pounds consumed by Bangladeshis each year.
In terms of livestock’s environmental damages, beef production is the worst offender, requiring 28 times more land, 11 times more water and emitting five times more harmful greenhouse gasses than the production of pork or poultry.
For all the damages livestock production causes the environment, its consumption offers few health benefits.
Here are five reasons Americans need to cut back on their meat consumption for the earth and for their own health…
by Bridget Snydstrup
CougarBuzz 