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The carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew N. Hayek

    (New York University)

  • Helen Harwatt

    (Harvard Law School)

  • William J. Ripple

    (Oregon State University)

  • Nathaniel D. Mueller

    (Colorado State University
    Colorado State University)

Abstract

Extensive land uses to meet dietary preferences incur a ‘carbon opportunity cost’ given the potential for carbon sequestration through ecosystem restoration. Here we map the magnitude of this opportunity, finding that shifts in global food production to plant-based diets by 2050 could lead to sequestration of 332–547 GtCO2, equivalent to 99–163% of the CO2 emissions budget consistent with a 66% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew N. Hayek & Helen Harwatt & William J. Ripple & Nathaniel D. Mueller, 2021. "The carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 21-24, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:4:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41893-020-00603-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-00603-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Fesenfeld, Lukas & Maier, Maiken & Brazzola, Nicoletta & Stolz, Niklas & Sun, Yixian & Kachi, Aya, 2023. "How information, social norms, and experience with novel meat substitutes can create positive political feedback and demand-side policy change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    2. Katz-Rosene, Ryan & Heffernan, Andrew & Arora, Anil, 2023. "Protein pluralism and food systems transition: A review of sustainable protein meta-narratives," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    3. Karen Page Winterich & Rebecca Walker Reczek & Tamar Makov, 2024. "How lack of knowledge on emissions and psychological biases deter consumers from taking effective action to mitigate climate change," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 52(5), pages 1475-1494, October.
    4. Richard Twine, 2021. "Emissions from Animal Agriculture—16.5% Is the New Minimum Figure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-8, June.
    5. Jakub Mazurkiewicz, 2023. "The Impact of Manure Use for Energy Purposes on the Economic Balance of a Dairy Farm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-22, September.
    6. Berkes, Jessica & Ollier, Carla & Faletar, Ivica & Christoph-Schulz, Inken & Mergenthaler, Marcus, 2023. "Change talk: Levels of adaptability to the livestock sector transformation," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 14(02), June.
    7. Bry-Chevalier, Tom, 2024. "Comparing the potential of meat alternatives for a more sustainable food system," OSF Preprints ze5yt, Center for Open Science.
    8. Adam C. Castonguay & Stephen Polasky & Matthew H. Holden & Mario Herrero & Daniel Mason-D’Croz & Cecile Godde & Jinfeng Chang & James Gerber & G. Bradd Witt & Edward T. Game & Brett A. Bryan & Brendan, 2023. "Navigating sustainability trade-offs in global beef production," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 284-294, March.
    9. Robinson, Sarah & Petrick, Martin, 2024. "Land access and feeding strategies in post-Soviet livestock husbandry: Evidence from a rangeland system in Kazakhstan," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    10. Martin C. Parlasca & Matin Qaim, 2022. "Meat Consumption and Sustainability," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 17-41, October.
    11. M. Kanerva, 2022. "Consumption Corridors and the Case of Meat," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 45(4), pages 619-653, December.
    12. Blignaut, James & Meissner, Heinz & Smith, Hendrik & du Toit, Linde, 2022. "An integrative bio-physical approach to determine the greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sinks of a cow and her offspring in a beef cattle operation: A system dynamics approach," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    13. Jakub Mazurkiewicz, 2022. "Analysis of the Energy and Material Use of Manure as a Fertilizer or Substrate for Biogas Production during the Energy Crisis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Vasileios Takavakoglou & Eleanna Pana & Dimitris Skalkos, 2022. "Constructed Wetlands as Nature-Based Solutions in the Post-COVID Agri-Food Supply Chain: Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-14, March.
    15. Nooshin Karimi Alavijeh & Nasrin Salehnia & Narges Salehnia & Matheus Koengkan, 2023. "The effects of agricultural development on CO2 emissions: empirical evidence from the most populous developing countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 12011-12031, October.

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