Exploring the Other Side of the Story: The Negative Impacts of a Vegan Diet and the Positive Environmental and Animal Welfare Benefits of Animal Farming

Negative Environmental Impacts of a Vegan Diet

It's common for people who reduce their meat consumption to discover that they may not be helping the environment at all. In fact, there are many articles that discuss the negative impacts of a vegan diet on the environment (1).

The truth is, plant-based diets rely heavily on mono-crop agriculture.

What is monoculture?

Monoculture is the practice of growing a single crop in a large area (e.g. soy or corn). This is a more cost-effective way to grow many crops but can lead to soil degradation and erosion due to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides (5).

How monoculture destroys soil and wildlife

The reliance on monoculture crops like soy and corn leads to soil degradation and erosion due to the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides (2). These chemicals can pollute natural habitats harm animals when ingested or inhaled (3). Monoculture crops (corn, soy) are often more vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can increase the use of pesticides and other chemicals (4).

This type of farming can lead to soil compaction, which can reduce the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients, leading to reduced crop yields (6). The constant planting of the same crops can also lead to a decrease in soil biodiversity, as the lack of crop rotation can lead to a decrease in the number of microorganisms present in the soil (7).

This can lead to a decrease in soil health and fertility (8).

Why soil is important for animals and their home

The role of soil in the ecosystem

Healthy soil is essential for biodiversity because it provides a habitat for many organisms and plants (9). These organisms and plants interact with each other and the environment in complex ways, forming ecosystems that are vital for maintaining the balance of nature (10).

Health VS unhealthy soil

When soil is healthy, it can support a diverse range of species, which helps maintain the ecosystem's overall health (11) - When soil is unhealthy, it is less able to support a diverse range of species, leading to a decline in biodiversity and potentially harmful impacts on the environment (12).

The truth about animal welfare on a vegan diet

Although a vegan diet doesn't involve consuming animal products directly, it can still negatively impact animal welfare through monoculture farming practices (13).

• When land is converted to grow monoculture crops, it may result in the removal of trees and other vegetation, which can lead to the displacement of animals that depend on these habitats (14).
• Additionally, soil degradation and erosion caused by monoculture farming can negatively impact the environment and the animals that depend on healthy soil (15).
• Chemical fertilisers and pesticides run into rivers and create ammonia, killing wildlife. In some cases, fake meat may result in more animal deaths than animal farming. It takes significantly more land and resources to produce plant-based protein than animal-based protein (18).
• And, animals are still killed to make room for plants.

Animals still die during plant farming

Even though vegans avoid animal products, they can't ignore the fact that animals still die from plant farming - in large amounts too (17):

• Mice,
• Birds,
• Snakes,
• Voles,
• Rabbits,
• Squirrels,
• Insects,
• Frogs,
• Salamanders,
• And lizards

Despite your best intentions, you cannot avoid animal death by going vegan.

Does the vegan diet reduce greenhouse emissions?

It is impossible to acquire all of your nutrients on a vegan diet full-stop, let alone from your local area - because humans were not designed to be vegan. Therefore, to get any form of nutrients (without instantly withering away) you would need to import foods from across the world to sustain your diet.

Lots of energy and resources are required to transport plant-based foods from far-off locations.

• Many vegan-friendly foods like avocados and tropical fruit are imported from countries with different climates,
• Transporting them to consumers requires a lot of energy (19).
• This can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts (20).
• Even the production of fake meat requires large amounts of energy and resources (21),

It may seem counterintuitive, but the most vegan-friendly diet may involve eating animal foods to support the planet.

Positive Environmental Impacts of Animal Farming

Regeneratively raised animals

I don't think many people are advocates of factory-farmed animals. It's cruel and inhumane. However, when raised using regenerative practices, animals have a better quality of life and express their natural behaviours (23). Naturally raised animals are only great for the environment but essential for the ecosystem.

What is regenerative agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture is a type of farming that focuses on regenerating and rebuilding soil health and maximising the ecosystem's overall health. It involves using practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, animal integration, water management, and pesticide-free methods to create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system.

Regenerative agriculture places a huge emphasis on creating healthy soil through animal manure and rotational grazing.

Animals create healthy soil

Cattle create manure (soil) that helps feed the plants and food we eat. We need it for survival, plants cannot grow with soil, which comes from manure.

Healthy soil helps to:

1. Sequester carbon,
2. Grow the food that feeds every human being
3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
4. Improve ecosystem biodiversity (27).

Soil traps carbon

According to a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, regenerative farming practices that promote soil health can sequester up to 4.1 metric tons of carbon per hectare per year (28).

Soil for growing plants

Not only does manure enrich soil, but it also helps to improve soil structure, water retention, and biodiversity. When applied to soil, manure can improve the structure of the soil, making it more porous and able to hold water and nutrients. This can help to reduce erosion and improve the soil's ability to support plant growth (24).

Manure can also help increase soil biodiversity by providing a habitat for beneficial bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms help to break down organic matter and release nutrients, improving soil health and fertility (25).

Manure for greenhouse gases

In addition to its benefits for soil and plant growth, manure can also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Manure releases methane and carbon dioxide as it decomposes, but these emissions are significantly lower compared to synthetic fertilisers (26).

The main benefit of regenerative agriculture is how it creates healthy soil.

Soil encourages wildlife

Animal manure is an important part of the ecosystem as it helps to enrich soil and promote plant growth. Manure contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. When manure is applied to soil, it breaks down and releases these nutrients, providing a natural source of fertiliser.

Healthy soil has been shown to support a diverse range of wildlife, including insects, birds, and mammals. These creatures play essential roles in the ecosystem, helping pollinate plants, break down organic matter, and recycle nutrients into the soil. When soil is healthy, it creates a more diverse and thriving ecosystem, which can support abundant wildlife.

We are running out of synthetic fertiliser

Synthetic fertilisers, such as those made from phosphates, are often used in monoculture farming to boost crop growth. However, these fertilisers can have negative environmental impacts, such as creating "dead zones" in the ocean and contributing to soil degradation (29). In addition, the world's supply of phosphates, which are a finite resource, is predicted to run out within the next few decades. This means that finding sustainable alternatives to synthetic fertilisers is becoming crucial, or we will all starve (30).

Animal fertiliser has been a sustainable option for thousands of years

Animal manure, which is rich in nutrients, is a sustainable approach that we have been using for thousands of years. Combined with regenerative farming practices, it can improve soil health and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

Health Benefits of Animal Foods and Dangers of Excluding Them

Either way, whether you think reducing your meat consumption will save the planet or not - you will need to return to eating animal foods eventually if your body starts experiencing health complications.

And this is incredibly common - we run a nutrition clinic, and half the job is explaining to people that their 5-year vegan diet is likely (almost certainly) the cause of their new health problems (Infertility, depression, broken teeth, allergies are not fun).

It's not much of a secret that animal foods are essential for your health, and most people intrinsically realise this. This is why most vegans go back to eating meat (plus it's delicious).

But meat has many benefits that cannot be obtained from plants (31).

• Many essential nutrients like vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, and heme iron can be difficult or impossible to get from plant-based sources (32),
• and excluding animal products from the diet can lead to deficiencies (33).
• This can lead to serious health consequences, including anaemia, neurological disorders, and impaired immune function (34).

It's important to ensure that we get all the nutrients needed to maintain optimal health (35). For homo sapiens, this means incorporating animal products into your diet.

Conclusion

Plant-based VS eating animals for nature

While a vegan diet may have some environmental benefits, it's important to carefully consider its potential negative impacts on the environment and ecosystem and the animal welfare implications of monoculture farming practices (39).

On the other hand, animal farming can positively affect soil health and the environment and improve animal welfare when done in a sustainable and humane manner through regenerative agriculture practices (40).

Opting for local regenerative farms

Through regenerative farming, we can promote sustainable and humane food production practices that promote carbon sequestration, soil health, and minimise animal death (41).

It's also essential we get all the necessary nutrients for optimal health, which means consuming animal products.

After considering this new information, you may choose to incorporate more locally and sustainably raised animal products into your diet. You can make an effort to support farmers who use regenerative agriculture practices.

Finding the best foods for your health

If you would like to learn more about your health and the best dietary choices, feel free to get in touch and speak with one of our nutritional therapists.

Biospan is the only nutrition clinic in the UK to offer private chef services, we call this Biocheffing. We source our animal foods from regenerative sources.

Our private chef service strives to use pasture-raised animals, organically grown plant foods, and wild fish whenever possible to ensure that the food we serve is as sustainable and healthy as possible. We believe this is the best way to nourish ourselves and the planet.

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