Meatless Monday has been marked as one of The Worldwatch Institute’s 12 Innovations to Combat Drought, Improve Food Security, and Stabilize Food Prices. As noted by this important environmental research organization, soaring temperatures and low precipitation in the U.S. have led to higher prices for the corn and soy that are used to feed livestock. This impacts not only the domestic price of meat, but also food security concerns in countries that rely on U.S. exports.
According to The Worldwatch Institute: “Choosing not to eat meat at least one day a week will reduce the environmental impacts associated with livestock as well as increase food availability in domestic and global markets. Current production methods require 7 kilograms of grain and 100,000 liters of water for every 1 kilogram of meat. Livestock production accounts for an estimated 18 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and roughly 23 percent of agricultural water use worldwide.”
Meatless Monday is included with other practical solutions, like proper soil and water management, more sustainable farming practices, and additional research into new methods. The movement makes the list as the one immediate action that consumers can take upon themselves to improve the system and fight rising food prices.