Plant-Based Diets and Animal Welfare: The Evidence

Shifting dietary patterns toward plant-based foods has significant potential to reduce animal suffering at scale.

Key Facts

A fully plant-based diet is estimated to reduce land use by 76 percent and greenhouse gases by 49 percent
Animal products currently use 77 percent of agricultural land for 18 percent of global calories
Around 80 billion land animals are farmed for food globally each year
Global meat consumption is projected to increase 70 percent by 2050 without major dietary shifts
UK plant-based food market has grown significantly with over 1 million vegans

Welfare Considerations

Dietary choices have a greater impact on aggregate animal welfare than almost any other individual decision. Reducing consumption of animal products directly reduces the number of animals experiencing the welfare compromises of intensive farming. Plant-based diets are the most effective individual action for reducing farmed animal suffering at scale. However, complete elimination of all animal products is not necessary to make significant welfare impact. Even modest reductions in meat consumption multiplied across millions of people create substantial welfare improvements.

What You Can Do

Reduce meat consumption even partially as every reduction has proportional welfare benefit
Participate in Veganuary or Meat Free Monday to explore plant-based eating
Support plant-based innovation that makes alternative proteins more accessible and affordable
Advocate for plant-based options to be the default in public institutions including schools and hospitals
Share accurate information about the welfare and environmental benefits of reduced meat consumption