Help protect... fertile lands
The World Resources Institute (WRI) states that nearly 40 per cent of the world’s agricultural land is seriously degraded. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) predicts that if land loss continues at current rates an additional 150-360 million hectares could go out of production by 2020.5
Increasing population is therefore not the only factor that we have to consider when looking at future food production. Viable agricultural lands are diminishing, so there is less and less productive soil per person. Continuing to intensify production on already degraded lands is not a sustainable solution.
How your diet can help
Overgrazing is blamed for 35 per cent of soil degradation, deforestation for 30 per cent and agriculture for 27 per cent.6
These main causes are directly or indirectly related to the consumption of animal products.
It is a vicious cycle in which declining soil fertility pushes people to find new land to expand the agricultural base. This often leads to deforestation, which in turn causes soil degradation. This process is the epitome of unsustainable agricultural practice. Switching to a vegan diet can help to prevent further deterioration of precious fertile lands.
They said it...
"...the booming poultry industry will pose feed demands that will far exceed current supplies." - United Nations FAO Report 2006