Name : To Ngoc My

Register Number : 32
Class : 3/1

The Impossible Burger, a plant-based alternative to beef

burger, has been taking over many fast-food outlets and
restaurants by storm. Getting people to switch to plant-based
alternatives can help to fight climate change as well.

Explain the science behind how plant-based alternatives can

help fight climate change.

Elaborate if plant-based alternatives can provide the same, or

better quality of nutrients, compared to what we get from
animals.
Concept Map
The Science Behind It

Research has shown that plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) play an

important role in our battle against climate change in many ways. But before going
into the discussion, we need to understand what qualifies as PBMA. PBMA are food
made from plant products and undergo processing techniques to mimic the
appearance, taste, and nutritional values of conventional meat. These veggie-based
alternatives come in various forms, including nuggets, sausage, and burger patties[1].
Common protein sources of these products include grains and legumes. Canola oil,
cocoa butter, coconut oil, and sunflower oil are types of dietary fats typically used to
make them. And to make up for the nutrient difference with meat, PBMA are usually
fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12 and zinc[2]. PBMA,
therefore, are much different from our conventional meat.

That being said, what is the connection between these alternatives and
climate change? This is because food choice is linked strongly to the health of the
Earth, with animal products often known for having a greater environmental impact
than their plant-based counterparts. Globally, livestock rearing contributes to climate
change not only through the overwhelming amount of methane gas the animals
produce but also via the overuse of water and land resources. On the other hand,
research has shown that PBMA, being produced from plants, generate fewer
greenhouse gas emissions and require less energy, water, and land than livestock
production. Therefore, turning to PBMA can be considered one of the most effective
ways to tackle climate change.

Firstly, PBMA are evidenced to have much lower greenhouse gas emissions
than animal products. These gases - including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and
methane - result in the greenhouse effect. They act like glass in the greenhouse that
allows sunlight to pass through but prevents heat from radiating from Earth towards
space, which leads to climate warming[3]. Livestock rearing is one of the biggest
greenhouse gas emission contributors. It is responsible for 14.5% of all
human-induced global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than the entire
transportation sector[4]. Not only the animals themselves, bugs in cattle's digestive
system produce methane, and deforestation for their pasture also releases carbon
dioxide, which adds up to big numbers[5]. On the other hand, the production of
PBMA’s primary ingredients has much lower greenhouse gas emissions. For
example, the greenhouse gas emissions of peas are 36 times lower than that of
dairy beef[6]. While there is additional processing, it only accounts for 13%-26% of
PBMA’s impact on the climate[7,8]. Therefore, replacing meat with PBMA can
significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Secondly, water usage is also reduced in the production of PBMA compared

to that of animals. If more water is used, more energy will be generated to deliver it
and thus more greenhouse gases will be emitted[9]. A third of the global water
consumption is used to produce animal products. Not only does livestock rearing
require a huge amount of water, but it also wastes freshwater resources. Up to
99.8% of the water used goes to feed crops, which depletes aquifers and rainwater
that could otherwise be used for drinking water and growing human food[10]. On the
contrary, PBMA production eliminates the major water demand in animal meat
production by requiring just the crops in the final product. Despite the fact that
processing makes up 14%–45% of PBMA's total water use[7,8], the water use of
animal products significantly exceeds that of any PBMA examined so far.

Thirdly, PBMA use much less land than conventional meat. Agriculture land
also affects the climate by emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere[11]. Over
80% of the world's farmland is used for animal production, but it only accounts for
20% of the global calorie supply[12]. This is because a lot of food is wasted as feed for
animals that we would then eat. For instance, the amount of grains for a cow to grow
by 1kg is approximately 10kg, for pigs is 6kg and for chickens is 3-4kg. In addition,
2/3 of agricultural land is used as pastures[5]. This inefficiency drives the need for
agriculture expansion that ultimately, forests are cleared to meet the increasing
demands for growing grassland for animal pastures and feed crops. When land is
deforested in favour of livestock, the earth’s ability to remove carbon from the
atmosphere is decreased by a large amount. Moreover, when trees are cleared,
there is less transpiration to form clouds and thus less rainfall, making Earth more
dry and warm[13]. In contrast, the production of PBMA will help free up farmland for
much-needed human plant food instead of livestock feed[14]. Therefore, PBMA offers
a pathway toward using our land resources more efficiently to slow down climate
change.

In conclusion, shifting towards PBMA indeed helps fight climate change. It

reduces the demand for livestock and changes agriculture yields, which in turn leads
to a sharp decline in natural resources depletion. A study from Blue Horizon
Corporation predicts that if we switch 10% of the global meat intake to PBMA, by
2030, we can avoid 176 million CO2 emissions, free 38 million hectares of land, and
save 8.6 billion m3 of water per year[15]. Hence, to substitute animal products with
plant-based foods is one of the most important things one can do to reduce the
impact of greenhouse gas emissions, energy needs, water consumption, and land
use on the planet.
Elaboration

Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA), being more sustainable while

maintaining the authentic flavours of conventional meat, have been on the rise in
recent years. Generally, PBMA offer us a wider range of quality nutrients than
conventional meat. Nonetheless, there are still some drawbacks we should bear in
mind when consuming these products. This essay will elaborate on how PBMA stack
up with meat nutritionally and ways we can compensate for their disadvantages in
our diet.

To start with, protein is the biggest concern of consumers when it comes to

meat. PBMA contains comparable amounts of protein as compared to their meat
counterparts, but with many more benefits coming along. Most plant-based meat
alternatives make use of soy protein in the form of isolate (>90% protein) or
concentrate (70-80% protein). It is a complete protein that contains all 9 essential
amino acids for the body, as well as omega-3 fatty acids[16]. Soy protein consumption
has been associated with improved blood lipid levels, improved bone health, reduced
risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, and heart disease[17]. Though lacking some of
the beneficial nutritional components found in whole soybeans, many of these
benefits were studied using soy protein isolates or extracts[18]. Therefore, it is safe to
say that the consumption of soy protein through PBMA does contribute to our health
to an extent. However, the case is a little different with other plant-based protein
sources. While some of them, such as quinoa, are also complete proteins, others are
missing some amino acids[19]. Thus, it is important to check these products’ nutrition
facts labels carefully and eat a variety of them to get all 9 essential amino acids.

Moreover, PBMA tend to be lower in calories than animal meat[20], which helps
us avoid high caloric intake that results in excessive weight gain and high body fat
percentage[21]. A similar difference was seen in total fat and saturated fat, especially
for burgers and sausage[20]. This is because PBMA use vegetable oils. These plant
fat sources are proven to be healthier than animal fats found in meat, which contain
a lot of saturated fats and cholesterol[22]. Randomised clinical trials have also
demonstrated that replacing animal-based meat with PBMA reduces levels of total
and bad cholesterol in the body. Thus, as they lower the amount of cholesterol
consumed, these products help us reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease[23].

As they are made from plant products, PBMA also provide us with additional
nutrients that are in little to no amount in animal meat. For example, PBMA contain
more carbohydrates and dietary fibre [20], which gives us more energy and helps with
the digestion process. PBMA also offer plant-specific nutrients called phytonutrients
and other antioxidants absent from animal protein sources[24] that prevent damage of
cells throughout the body[25]. PBMA, specifically some tofu products, are also a good
source of calcium. Calcium intake helps in building strong bones, the blood-clotting
process, and the contraction of muscles[26].
 However, these plant-based alternatives are far from perfect. Firstly, due to
their ultra-processed nature, these products typically have higher amounts of
sodium[20]. If consumed for a long time, it can lead to high blood pressure and
increase the risk of stroke, heart, and kidney diseases[27]. Therefore, it is important to
reduce sodium intake from other foods in our diet to maintain the balance. Moreover,
the uptake of minerals such as iron and zinc is also reduced when obtained from
legumes - the common protein source in plant-based meat alternatives - with the
exception of soy. This is because our body does not absorb iron and zinc from
plant-based sources as effectively as from animal-based ones[28,29]. Also, not all
PBMA are fortified with vitamin B12[20], which is an important micronutrient only found
in animal products. These are all essential nutrients as iron plays a key role in
producing red blood cells[30], zinc is vital to our immune system[31] and vitamin B12 is
involved in developing red blood cells and maintaining nerves and brain function[32].
Therefore, they must be supplemented in our diet so as to prevent deficiency. With
iron, we can improve its absorption by increasing the portion or consuming foods rich
in vitamin C in our daily diet[33]. Zinc intake can be increased through zinc-containing
plant-based whole foods such as beans, seeds, and oats. And with vitamin B12, we
should check the nutrition facts label of these meat alternatives carefully to ensure
they are fortified with this nutrient, or eat other fortified plant-based foods such as
nutritional yeast, soy milk, and breakfast cereal. Taking supplements for these
nutrients should also be considered.

All in all, plant-based meats generally offer a wider range and a better quality of
nutrients than animal products. Even so, these substitutions are not without flaws
and should be consumed mindfully. It is important to note that our health is affected
by our daily diet as a whole. It consists of all groups of foods, and these plant-based
substitutes are just one part of them. Therefore, they should serve as useful stepping
stones towards a more wholesome and sustainable diet, rather than the ultimate
ideal choice.
References

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