Through this website, Seicho-No-Ie hopes to encourage a greater number of people to reduce eating meat as much as possible. The reason is because not only does meat consumption destroys nature and its ecosystems, but we also believe it to be a factor that hinders world peace.
Extreme weather events are now occurring frequently in all parts of the world. The cause is due to global warming from an increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. So, what is it that is emitting substantial amounts of greenhouse gases and promoting global warming? Unfortunately, that is our activities. 【ⅰ】
Among these activities, one having a major impact on the worsening of global warming is the livestock industry.
Global warming is accelerated by the transportation of livestock
Meat production continues to increase worldwide, and its impact on the global environment is also growing. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in 2023, the world produced 163,434,000 tons of beef, 102,462,012,461 tons of pork, and 146,030,000 tons of poultry (estimated as of November 2024) 【ⅱ】.
Forests around the world are being felled to increase production of grains used as feed for livestock, such as corn, and to secure grazing land. This is resulting in a decrease in the forests that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and acceleration of global warming.
In addition, the belching of cattle, sheep and other ruminants holds a lot of methane gas, which has a greenhouse effect about 25 times that of carbon dioxide. With one cow emitting between 160 and 200 liters of methane gas per day, the estimated 1.5 billion cows on the planet have a great environmental impact. Furthermore, the meat produced is sold all over the world, emitting a large amount of gas even before reaching our table.
Greenhouse gases, including methane, emitted by the livestock industry account for 12% of greenhouse gas emissions overall. (2022, FAO) 【ⅲ】.
Burning of the Amazon rainforest in South America and meat consumption
The world’s largest rainforest, which spreads across the Amazon River basin in South America, is a region rich in biodiversity where a wide variety of plants and animals live. This rainforest is important in curbing global warming, but it is being burned down and the area is being used for agricultural development by humans. The land is used as pastures and for fodder production for livestock such as beef cattle. This indicates just how much meat is being consumed. It can be said that when we eat meat, we are indirectly destroying the Amazon rainforest.
Meat consumption is exacerbating hunger and water shortages worldwide.
According to an FAO report, it is estimated that 713 to 757 million people in the world faced malnutrition in 2023 【ⅳ】. This is not because there is a shortage of food production. Volume-wise, enough grain is produced every year to be adequately distributed to the entire world population.
However, about one-third of that grain is used as food for livestock, not for humans. Livestock are fed large quantities so they quickly gain weight and can be shipped faster. In addition, the fodder to meat conversion rate is extremely poor. Even at a low estimate, about 7 kg of grain is required to increase the weight of a cow by 1 kg, about 4 kg of grain is required to increase the weight of a pig by 1 kg, and about 2 kg of grain is needed to increase the weight of a chicken by 1 kg.
Furthermore, about 80% of people suffering from hunger in the world actually live in countries with food surplus. However, that surplus is used to raise livestock, whose meat is consumed by wealthy people in developed countries. In other words, when we eat meat, we are indirectly depriving the hungry of food.
Even more importantly, meat production requires a great amount of water. For example, it takes about 1,800 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of corn fodder. Because livestock grow while consuming large amounts of fodder, it takes about 20,600 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of beef. According to the World Water Development Report (United Nations, 2023), 26% of the world’s population (2 billion people) do not have access to safely managed drinking water services. Also, looking at the past 40 years, water consumption has increased by 1% per year worldwide, and it is predicted that it will increase at a similar rate until 2050 due to the increase in socio-economic development 【ⅴ】. Eating meat in such a situation will result in depriving the people who are suffering from hunger and thirst of water.
Your choices today will change the future
Do you think that one individual cannot change the future of the world? Think about it from a slightly different perspective. Food purchases are a powerful way for us as consumers to convey our desires to producers. Through consumption, we tell them to continue producing because we will keep buying. Demand is creating supply. In other words, when we eat meat, we are asking producers to hurt and kill more animals, and that leads to the expansion of world hunger.
Therefore, in order to realize our desire to not cause suffering to animals, to not increase world hunger, to protect the global environment, and to pass it on to the next generation, the most effective way is to take action ourselves, and to increase the number of people who do so. This will lead to changing society and changing the future.
Why don’t we gradually adopt or continue eating a diet that cares for people in poor countries, living creatures, and the global environment, just as if we are extending a helping hand to those in need? This will not only improve your health, but it will also lead to a lifestyle about which you can be truly happy.
【ⅰ】Ministry of the Environment homepage “Scientific Findings on Climate Change”
【ⅱ】Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation “Livestock information”
【ⅲ】FAO Database “GLEAM 3 Dashboard. In: Shiny Apps.”
【ⅳ】FAO “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024”
【ⅴ】UN World Water Development Report 2023 “Partnerships and cooperation for water; executive summary”