Frequently Asked Question
Environment & Climate“Vegans cause deforestation via soy”
Last reviewed: April 12, 2026
Summary
Most global soy is used for animal feed (and some for oil/biofuels), while a smaller share is consumed directly by humans (tofu/soy milk/edamame). So, while soy can be linked to deforestation, the dominant driver is typically animal feed demand.
Supported by 5 cited sources
Evidence Summary
- Global commodity-use breakdowns consistently show feed as the main soy use. Evidence quality: Moderate (data synthesis; verify with primary datasets for app) Limitations / nuance: Regional variation; some soy expansion directly for human food exists but is smaller. Bottom line: If you’re worried about soy-driven deforestation, reducing animal feed demand is the biggest lever.
Supporting Evidence
Sources:
Sources:
Sources & Evidence
5 sources cited across 2 claims
1
Most soy is fed to animals, not eaten by humans
Observational2
Reducing feed demand addresses soy deforestation
Modeling