Frequently Asked Question
Environment & ClimateLand use & biodiversity
Last reviewed: January 9, 2026
Summary
Most global agricultural land is used for livestock (grazing and feed), and shifting toward plant-forward diets can reduce land use and pressure on biodiversity. Reduced land demand increases potential for rewilding and ecosystem recovery.
Supported by 1 cited source
Evidence Summary
- Large global datasets show livestock dominates land use.
- Lower land footprint supports biodiversity conservation and restoration. Evidence quality: High Limitations / nuance: Impacts vary by product and production system; some extensive systems have different biodiversity interactions. Bottom line: In aggregate, livestock is a major land driver; plant-forward diets free land.
Supporting Evidence
Sources & Evidence
1 source cited across 2 claims
1
Livestock dominates global agricultural land use
Systematic ReviewThe carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land. — Hayek MN, et al. (2021)
2
Plant-forward diets enable rewilding opportunities
ModelingThe carbon opportunity cost of animal-sourced food production on land. — Hayek MN, et al. (2021)