Are you aware of the impact your shopping choices may have on the environment? Many people don’t realize the tremendous impact that agriculture and the production of food have on the environment, or that they can help lessen that impact with their purchasing decisions. Here’s a closer look at this issue.
A staggering 50% of the world’s habitable land is allocated to agriculture, accompanied by a hefty demand for 70% of the planet’s freshwater resources. Shockingly, food production alone contributes to a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, agriculture is culpable for 78% of freshwater and ocean eutrophication, which refers to the pollution of water bodies with nutrient-rich substances. Wildlife also bears the brunt of agricultural expansion, with livestock comprising over 90% of terrestrial mammal biomass, outweighing wild mammals by a significant margin of 15 to 1. This encroachment on natural habitats places around 28,000 wildlife species at risk of extinction.
Embracing a diet with fewer animal products and embracing plant-based alternatives could alleviate the strain on land resources and the environment. Continue reading for more!
