A global transformation of dietary patterns could significantly reduce livestock production, free up land, and cut land-use-related CO2 emissions by 85% by 2050, reports infohub.kz.
Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Cornell University published modeling results of the global food system in the journal Nature. The study builds on the recommendations of the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission.
According to the calculations, a global shift to healthy diets would reduce worldwide agricultural land use by 6% by 2050. At the same time, the value of livestock production would drop by 42% ($630 billion). The number of ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, and goats) could decrease by 400 million head.
Meanwhile, production of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes would increase by 57% ($890 billion). Lead author Matt Gibson noted that such changes require decisive action from governments and a willingness to restructure the agricultural sector.
Regional analysis showed varying impacts of the reform: the value of agricultural production in the United States would fall by 21%, in Europe by 35%, while in India it would rise by 46% due to growth in crop farming.