Researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted a simulation exercise to illustrate the consequences of Americans going meat-free. Source PNAS

For decades, many science community insiders have suggested that entirely eliminating animal food products from U.S. manufacturing, sales and consumption would have only a positive impact in terms of health and the environment. To test that theory, researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducted a simulation exercise to illustrate the consequences of Americans going meat-free.

Basing their simulator on information about the amount of land and water used to grow animal feed and the greenhouse gas emissions from animals, the researchers entered the figures into the system and found a 23 percent increase in the amount of food grown for human consumption once land intended for growing animal feed was converted. Likewise, the simulator revealed a 28 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions — which was lower than originally expected because it would become necessary to synthesize fertilizers to substitute for those created by farm animals.

Researchers also found that despite the addition of new crops, those on vegan diets in the simulation experienced profound mineral, vitamin and fatty acid deficiencies.

Another consequence of Americans switching to a vegan diet would be the impact on the roughly 16 million people employed in some capacity in the animal food industry.

The study is detailed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.