Why Become Vegetarian?
Meat production requires many resources and takes lot of space
To produce just one kilo of beef, you would need around 25 kilos of grain and 15,000 liters of water.
Meat production also takes up 30% of the earths land surface. This space could have been preserved and left as nature,
1.
Meat production requires many resources and a lot of space
To produce just one kilo of beef, you would need around 25 kilos of grain and 15,000 liters of water.
Meat production also takes up 30% of the earth's land surface. This space could have been preserved and left as nature, contributing to biodiversity.
2.
It hurts the poor around the world
The price of grains increase as more animals and humans need it. So, instead of the poor getting to feed themselves, the grain goes to livestock animals. If grain was fed to humans instead of animals, we could feed an extra 3.5 billion people.
3.
It makes us ill
Studies have shown that eating red meat can increase the chance of getting some diseases. You can also develop a resistance to the antibiotics the animals are fed with in order to increase weight and control infections.
4.
Unnecessary animal suffering
The animals don't get the welfare they deserve. They don't have enough space to move and are treated badly. They are hit, and killed in gruesome ways, especially if they are too small or sick to be used for food.
5.
Facts about meat production
1. If everyone suddenly turned vegan, the area used for agriculture could be reduced by 75%. CO2 emissions from agriculture would be reduced by 50%.
​
2. Beef has the highest CO2 emissions per kg of meat, topping the list at 26.61 kg of CO2 per kg of meat.
​
3. 44g of beef has the same climate impact as 50 onions.
​
4. The emissions per kg of beef are 72 times higher than the emissions per kg of field-grown vegetables.
​
5. With the exception of fish, chicken has the lowest emission per kg of meat: 3.65 kg of CO2 per kg of meat.
Our experience as vegetarians:
During our project, we spent 6 weeks being vegetarian. At first, it was hard because we had to think over what we ate, and couldn't eat what we usually would. Just around two weeks in, you adapt to the new changes, and it wasn't as hard anymore. Food ideas without meat came more naturally and we also had our parents to help us out. I think this experience was educational, and hope that more people will try the same. Cutting meat out completely of your diet isn't necessary. Quitting eating meat one day a week can still make big a change.
​
To help you out with an easier transition to cutting down meat in your diet, we have listed some of our favourite recipes from our time being vegetarian.
​
​