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Which plant-based diets are best for stopping deforestation?: Difference between revisions
Which plant-based diets are best for stopping deforestation? (view source)
Revision as of 13:59, 28 October 2024
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We know that ''in general'', plant-based diets | We know that ''in general'', plant-based diets [[Reduce the amount of land required to feed the world|use less land]], which is crucial for stopping [[deforestation]]. But not all plant-based diets are equally beneficial. It depends what crops are involved, how high their yields are, and where they are grown. What are some diets that would really help the most? | ||
{{minor|Also note: In some cases, the {{t2|"production configuration"|i.e. which of the crops are grown in what region of the world}} might make a big difference, even with the same {{t2|per-capita diet|i.e. the global production totals for each food}}. If so, we could start a separate discussion on [[how to economically encourage an optimal production configuration]].}} {{talk|also make a note about weird cases that would encourage reforestation in some areas but deforestation in others (which is not a good tradeoff if it's a loss of old-growth and a gain of not-so-biodiverse new forest)}} | {{minor|Also note: In some cases, the {{t2|"production configuration"|i.e. which of the crops are grown in what region of the world}} might make a big difference, even with the same {{t2|per-capita diet|i.e. the global production totals for each food}}. If so, we could start a separate discussion on [[how to economically encourage an optimal production configuration]].}} {{talk|also make a note about weird cases that would encourage reforestation in some areas but deforestation in others (which is not a good tradeoff if it's a loss of old-growth and a gain of not-so-biodiverse new forest)}} | ||
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==Answers== | ==Answers== | ||
{{answer|[[User:Elie|Elie]] ([[User talk:Elie|talk]]) 13:59, 28 October 2024 (EDT)| | |||
Quick approach: | |||
* Might help to look at one of those bar graphs about "land required per protein production" (i've seen a few floating around social media). Some argue that pasture land should not be lumped together with crop land, but it's a good start (better than nothing). Also, I would assume that for chicken and pork, most of the land required '''is''' crop land, because they aren't ruminants, and most are raised (sadly) in factory farms. | |||
More analysis: | |||
* [[Plant-based using status quo crops]] is a good start, guaranteed to be more land-efficient than the status quo at least (due to cutting out the inefficiencies of animal farming). But not necessarily the ''most'' land-efficient option. | * [[Plant-based using status quo crops]] is a good start, guaranteed to be more land-efficient than the status quo at least (due to cutting out the inefficiencies of animal farming). But not necessarily the ''most'' land-efficient option. | ||
* [[Crop choices]] might provide a theoretical framework to maximize yields (minimize land use) by growing the "best" crops in each region. But it's unclear how it would work in practice, considering that polyculture can be higher-yielding than monoculture. {{talk|That caveat (also?) belongs on the [[crop choices]] page.}} | * [[Crop choices]] might provide a theoretical framework to maximize yields (minimize land use) by growing the "best" crops in each region. But it's unclear how it would work in practice, considering that polyculture can be higher-yielding than monoculture. {{talk|That caveat (also?) belongs on the [[crop choices]] page.}} | ||
* It's possible for some plant-based diets to be just as bad as the animal-based status quo, due to relying on low-yielding crops. Let's do some case studies. One might be: [[Lentils vs second-hand soy]]. | * It's possible for some plant-based diets to be just as bad as the animal-based status quo, due to relying on low-yielding crops. Let's do some case studies. One might be: [[Lentils vs second-hand soy]]. | ||
* Some of this analysis might get complicated, as how do you predict which farmland is likely to get a crop switch, and what might the yields be on that particular land? I don't have a great framework in mind at the moment | * Some of this analysis might get complicated, as how do you predict which farmland is likely to get a crop switch, and what might the yields be on that particular land? I don't have a great framework in mind at the moment | ||
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