Spinach grown on an acre of land can yield 26 times more protein than beef produced on the same acre. This land is not good for grazing and it lasts only for a few years, after which more rainforest must be destroyed to raise the cattle on. A lot more water is required in animal agriculture than in plant agriculture. It takes only about 25 gallons of water to produce a pound of wheat and around 390 gallons to produce just one pound of beef. In fact, It takes less water to produce the food that a pure vegetarian needs for one year than to produce the food that a meat eater needs for a month.
Animal production requires a lot of fossil fuels.
Fuels are needed to transport animal feed, to heat their housing, and to take the animals to slaughter, meat packing plants, and grocery stores. The burning of these fuels, as well as methane produced by the animals, is one cause of global warming. Pesticides, herbicides, and fertlizers used in the production of animals' feed pollute land and water. Many plants and animals become extinct due to the destruction of land. World Problems 60 million people will starve to death this year - 60 million people could be adequately fed by the grain saved if Americans reduced their intake of meat by 10 percent.