Introduction

As a species, humans are the only mammals that willingly reconfigure and adapt their dietary habits, regardless of aptitude which typically entails a virtually endless array of selections. For the most apparent issue pertaining to the methods of consumption, is overconsumption. There is a steadily growing demand and supply chain for animal products, importantly, poultry, pork, and beef that in its current state slaughters nearly tens of billions of animals on an yearly basis. Not only is this an alarming statistic, but the grounds of raising and slaughtering animals by the billions is an intensively sensitive sociopolitical issue plagued with moral conductivity. The fact of the matter is that the environment is in a very precarious position with events such as the global temperature increasing by 1 degree celsius, and the seemingly endless system of carbon production. These events have propelled the very soil and grounds the human species subsist on into a state of precariousness. 

Background

Whilst the acknowledgement of a clear and present correlation between dietary consumption and planetary conditions there are studies that vaguely outline manners to combat the overly increasing demand for animal based products. The entirety of the meat industry is an integral global commodity that represents strife efforts within global cultures to produce some of the most renowned products(i.e. Wagyu beef, Iberian ham) of which are delicacies and ingrained into certain cultures. Furthermore the economic aspect of the meat industry. The agenda isn’t necessarily to transform the greater populace into a utopia with a  rigid vegetarian diet, due to the evident fact that the concept of free will and desire is an essential aspect of modern societies. However, the encouragement of the greater populace to adopt a reduced meat diet and the discouragement of large corporations to limit the undertaking of mass production of livestock, all must be done with little hampering to the global commerce market. There is a moral imperativeness bestowed upon our species to rectify these worsening conditions in order to secure a future. 

Methods

Through a multitude of methods can a more sustainable environment be conceived when alternatives to meat and dairy products are introduced. Educating the general populace in regards to this intersection between the areas of commerce for instance the correlation between livestock and its maintenance being a debilitation to the natural reservoirs of land and its atmospheric pollutant ability. One study in particular proposes a multitude of methods to go about reducing the mass consumption of meat. One of the ways the study attempts to tackle this is to propagate awareness, along with making plant based products more accessible to the general public, introducing legislation, and both educating and applying methods of adaptability within the food industry. These interventions are necessary tactics especially when it comes to accessibility due to how costly products can often range for, furthermore, awareness regarding the global meat production problem can disseminate information regarding its adverse effects and help shift public opinion and norms to a more plant based diet. The problems surrounding this study is its actual feasibility due to how intensive the study tries to use the art of persuasion towards an overwhelming meat consuming community that has the freedoms to follow any diet, also the implementation of its methods isn’t exactly a long term solution for the future of the meat industry as it doesnt outline specifics. Another study outlines the use of a study pool of 250 volunteers within their native country of Sweden pinpointing the social attitudes towards meat reduction. It was a study that used both qualitative and quantitative data to go about identifying the social opinions towards a meat reduced diet that yielded moderately successful data yet still outlined the stubbornness among the community to make the switch to a plant based diet. This study in particular concentrated its focus on statistics which could be translated to larger cities and go hand in hand with educating the community and greater populace. 

Outcomes 

The need for further research in methods to address the growing global carbon output in regards to dietary options is of the utmost importance. The reduction of meat may not be the complete answer to solving the global troubles of environmental protection, but it is a necessary measure to ensure a more sustainable future. The studies evaluated are stepping stones to the research that is necessary in order to combat and reduce carbon emissions. These studies gather insight towards methods and data collection into meat reduction, 

                        `                                   Citations 

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Lynch, H., Johnston, C., & Wharton, C. (2018, December 1). Plant-based diets: Considerations for environmental impact, protein quality, and exercise performance. Nutrients. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316289/

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2017, August 25). Meat and dairy production. Our World in Data. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from https://ourworldindata.org/meat-production

Rust, N. A., Ridding, L., & Ward, C. (2020, February 8). How to transition to reduced-meat diets that benefit people and the planet. Shibboleth Authentication Request. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from https://www-sciencedirect-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/