Even partial replacement of meat with microbial protein will cut deforestation in half

German scientists have shown that replacing 20% ​​of beef with artificial meat will reduce deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions by half compared to maintaining current consumption. The study is published in the journal Nature.

Researchers from Germany and Sweden modeled various scenarios for the development of the food industry and their impact on climate. The scientists built a computer simulation model that takes into account future population growth, food demand, food patterns, and land use and agricultural dynamics.

The researchers showed that in a conservative forecast (while maintaining current consumption), the amount of meat eaten will increase annually. At the same time, more and more forests and other "green" areas will be destroyed to create pastures and arable land.

Scientists note that the food system is responsible for a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the largest single source being ruminant meat production. As an alternative solution, scientists propose using the existing microbial protein biotechnology. It is a nutritious and protein-rich biomass with a meaty texture that is produced by microorganisms.

“We found that if we replace 20% of per capita ruminant meat with artificial ruminants by 2050, annual deforestation and carbon dioxide emissions from land-use change would be halved compared to the baseline scenario,” says Florian Humpeneder, co-author of the study. .

The researchers also say that reducing the number of cattle not only reduces the pressure on the land, but also reduces emissions of methane from the animals' digestive tract and nitrous oxide produced when fertilizers are used.