Introduction
The growth of the worldwide population provides a need for sufficient food production for the satisfaction of the nutritional needs of humanity. The topic of this research is based on the issue of human-induced pollution or another environmental impact that affect the Earth and dietary approaches that can improve the situation. More specifically, an article by Carrington points out that that cattle breeding and milk production do not contribute significantly to the nutritional needs of people. However, these industries impact the air, emissions rates, and wildlife.
Therefore, the background of the problem that is investigated in this report is the adverse effect that contemporary nutrition habits have on the planet and approaches to improving them through strategies such as vegetarianism. The topic is worth investigating because everyone can experience the impact of pollution and greenhouse emissions, and only a significant change in consumption habits of people will help mitigate this issue.
The audience that may benefit from this research is people concerned with environmental issues, both students and other readers will be able to expand their knowledge of the topic and adopt new approaches. The tone of information provision is informer because the research strives to provide an outline of various studies and statistics regarding this problem. This paper aims to provide evidence that human impact on the environment can be reduced by altering food habits and applying plant-based diets.
Statement of the Argument
The primary argument guiding this research is that individuals can replace foods such as beef, fish, and milk with plant-based meals. This approach is necessary because it ensures that the industries responsible for production do not contaminate the environment with harmful substances. Unarguably, the growth of the overall population on Earth leads to enlargement of the food production properties. However, the approaches that these companies use provide unnecessary damage to the air and atmosphere while providing little nutritional benefit. One way that consumers can affect this situation is by being informed and choosing meals that contain essential fats, proteins, minerals, and other components.
One example of the adverse environmental impact that this study examines is the beef industry, which contributes to the greenhouse emotions and pollutes the air through production facilities. Gidon et al. argue that people can receive nutrients, similar to those in this meat from plant-based foods (8164). The question that arises is the necessity for the proposed alterations. This information provides an understanding of the fact that alternatives to the current food habits exist, which result in minor damages to nature. One of the options is sustainable production of vegetables, which does not result in harm to Earth (Carrington). Due to this reason, the argument of this report requires additional exploration.
Another example is the footprint of animal breeding that is facilitated by the meat industry and its impact on nature. Carrington states that almost 83% of the farmlands across the world are used to accommodate cattle. The issue is in the overpopulation because the author points out that reducing the amount of land to 75% would still provide a sufficient amount of meat for people. Another harmful component is the destruction of wild forests, which occurs due to a need for obtaining new territories that the food industry companies can use to breed cattle. It should be noted that these practices are prevalent not only in the US but across the world as well, presenting a danger in the form of pollution and wildlife extinction.
Additionally, from a nutritional perspective, the meat that is produced using these areas do not contribute greatly to the overall calories and nutrients consumption. Thereupon, the proportion of positive contribution to human nutrition does not correspond to the harmful effects that are a result of such work. The alternative to the current situation is a vegetarian diet, although studies such as the work by Gidon confirm that not all subtypes of this method are environmentally friendly.
Qualifications
The particular topic was chosen because I am a student who is personally concerned with the impact of human behavior on Earth. Additionally, from a professional point of view, I understand that nutrition is crucial for people, although many do not dedicate enough attention to their food choices. And thus, through my work, I would want to offer a method through which people can live in harmony with this planet. One can argue that changing the food habits of the entire population requires immense work; however, this research would contribute to the purpose by providing easy to understand information and practical advice.
Conclusion
The chosen topic has immense importance for the improvement of our environment. The approaches discussed in this paper help people receive nutrients without harming nature through industries. Therefore, the particular components of the adverse impact that milk and cattle industry have on environment and approaches such as vegetarianism should be explored to present a valid strategy for improving the environmental impact of humans on the Earth. Due to this reasoning, the research topic should be approved, which would provide a possibility for further examination of this nutritional problem.
Bibliography
Carrington, Damian. “Avoiding Meat and Dairy Is ‘Single Biggest Way’ To Reduce Your Impact on Earth.” The Guardian, 2018. Web.
Eshel, Gidon, et al. “Environmentally Optimal, Nutritionally Aware Beef Replacement Plant-Based Diets.” ACS Publications, Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 50, 2016, pp. 8164-8168.