Negative Effects of Veganism on the Environment

There are some potential negative environmental impacts associated with vegan diets, although they are generally less harmful than meat-based diets:

• Vegan diets often rely heavily on monoculture crops like soy and corn, which can lead to soil degradation and erosion due to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. This can harm natural habitats and wildlife.

• Monoculture crops are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, which can increase pesticide use. Soil compaction from constant planting of the same crops reduces water and nutrient retention, leading to lower yields.

• Imported fruits and vegetables flown in from other countries to meet demand can have a high carbon footprint. For example, asparagus imported to the UK from Peru produces 5.3kg of CO2 per kg due to air transportation.

• Highly processed vegan meat alternatives may have a smaller impact than meat, but there is still a wide range in environmental damage between different plant-based foods.

However, the overall consensus is that vegan diets are still significantly better for the environment compared to meat-based diets. A recent study found that vegan diets lead to 75% less climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use than meat-rich diets. Reducing meat and dairy consumption, even without eliminating it entirely, can substantially decrease one's dietary environmental footprint.