The world of Tzu Chi April 2020 (Vol.121)

eature Health Research Institute of Taiwan, a plant- based diet bodes well for overall health. For every year an individual commits to a vegan diet, the risk of obesity is likely to be reduced by 7 percent. For every year an individual abstains from milk and dairy products, the susceptibility to abnormal fluctuations in blood pressure and impaired glucose tolerance is lowered by 8 percent and 7 percent respectively. Those opting for a plant- based diet also exhibit a higher metabolic rate than those on a meat-based diet, probably due to a lower body mass index (BMI). The Economist had anticipated 2019 as “the year of the vegan”. At around the same time, global interest in plant-based meat products has surged alongside the advent of the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, driven by various factors. However, the practice of meat consumption has long been so deeply entrenched in mainstream food culture, pushing for a move towards vegetarianism appears to be an uphill climb. Furthermore, the researchers hypothesized that food production accounts for one-quarter to one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, a substantial proportion of which is attributed to the livestock industry. Despite this, the impact of our dietary choices on climate change is often underestimated. For example, research in the US has shown that a family of four emits more greenhouse gases owing to meat consumption than from driving two cars, yet the subject of exhaust emissions from cars tends to take precedence over the carbon footprint of the production and consumption of meat in discussions about global warming. Tim Benton, a food security expert at the University of Leeds, opined: “Most people don’t think of the consequences of food on climate change. But just eating a little less meat right now might make things a whole lot better for our children and grandchildren.” Food production, especially the cultivation of livestock, exhausts a significant amount of resources and constitutes a major source of greenhouse gas emissions due to land conversion and of biodiversity loss. Notably, 68 percent of the world’s approximately 5 billion hectares of agricultural land is used for livestock. Furthermore, the researchers reasoned that assuming the world’s population have all adopted a vegetarian diet, ideally at least 80 percent of pastureland should be dedicated to the restoration of grasslands and forests, which function to capture carbon emissions and further alleviate climate change. Converting former pastures to native habitats for animals would also enhance biodiversity. Countering the transmission of animal-borne viruses The Covid-19 outbreak escalated swiftly into a full-blown pandemic on a global scale; even developed countries with sophisticated healthcare systems and advanced medical technology suchas theUK,US, JapanandSouth Korea have fallen victim to the contagion. The outbreak has provoked debates surrounding the question of whether human consumption of wildlife or exotic meats – presumed to be the origin of the novel coronavirus – is directly 2020 • 04 22