Tofu not so environmentally friendly

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

A U.K. university study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund has found that the environmental costs of growing and importing meat alternatives such as tofu outweigh the environmental costs of beef and lamb reared in Britain.

This study counters the general assumption that meat alternatives are a more environmentally friendly choice than eating meat. The significant amount of farmland required to grow meat alternatives, and the risk of forests being destroyed to create the necessary farmland, were considered in the study. Meat substitutes also tend to be highly processed, and these production methods are energy-intensive.

The study further warns that a significant increase in vegetarianism in Britain could cause the collapse of the country's livestock industry and result in production of meat shifting overseas to countries with fewer regulations.

Liz O'Neill, spokeswoman for the Vegetarian Society, questions the assumption that all vegetarians are de facto meat-alternative consumers. that "If you're aiming to reduce your environmental impact by going vegetarian," she told The Times of London, "then it's obviously not a good idea to rely on highly processed products, but that doesn't undermine the fact that the livestock industry causes enormous damage and that moving towards a plant-based diet is good for animals, human health and the environment."   

Jonathan Scurlock, the National Farmers' Union's chief adviser for climate change, responded: "The report rightly demonstrates the many environment benefits to be had from grazing pasture land with little or no other productive use." BF