Tag: Resource efficiency

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a fifth of human-made greenhouse gas emissions come from the livestock industry. Choosing to eat at a lower trophic level—meaning consuming foods from closer to the bottom of the food chain, like plants—can significantly reduce this environmental impact and offer major health and efficiency benefits.

The "10% rule" of energy transfer explains that only a fraction of energy moves up each trophic level in a food chain. So, when considering resource utilization and environmental impact, is it more efficient to eat plants or animals? For planetary health, the data overwhelmingly shows a plant-based diet is more efficient, but nutritional considerations require a nuanced look.