Beans for beef

What if everyone in the United States ate beans instead of beef? This quite simple dietary change would result in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 334 million tonnes, which corresponds to 75 per cent of the 2020 US reduction target. The researchers behind the calculation also found that it would free up 42 per cent of US crop land, which is approximately 1.6 times the size of California.
Replacing beef with cooked black beans would also reduce chronic disease burdens by improving micronutrient and fibre intakes, and reducing saturated fat intakes. The researchers conclude: “While not currently recognized as a climate policy option, the ‘beans for beef’ scenario offers significant climate change mitigation and other environmental benefits, illustrating the high potential of animal to plant food shifts.”

Source: FCRN Newsletter 7 September 2017, http://www.fcrn.org.uk/research-library/substituting-beans-beef-can-cont...