Files and links (2)
Published (Version of Record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Book chapter
The environmental benefits of vegan pet food
Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets: Human, Animal and Planetary Health, pp.92-104
Earthscan Food and Agriculture, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Ltd., 1st
2025
Abstract
Environmental impacts attributable to livestock production are proportionate to consumption levels. To compare the consumption of livestock animals by dogs, cats and people, the dietary energy needs of each group were calculated for the US and globally. US pet food ingredients (2020), and environmental impact data for plant- and animal-based ingredients were also analysed. A worldwide transition to nutritionally sound vegan diets within each group could end the slaughter of the following numbers of terrestrial livestock animals annually (billions): dogs – 6.0, cats – 0.9 and humans – 71.3, along with billions of aquatic animals. Land freed up would exceed the areas of: dogs – Saudi Arabia or Mexico, cats – Japan/Germany and humans – Russia (the world’s largest country), plus India. Freshwater volumes spared would exceed all renewable freshwater within: dogs – Denmark, cats – Jordan and humans – Cuba. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) eliminated would exceed all GHG emissions from: dogs – South Africa or the UK, cats – Israel or New Zealand and humans – India or the entire EU. Food energy savings could feed human populations greater than those of: dogs – the entire EU, cats – France or the UK and humans – two-thirds of the Earth’s population.
Details
- Title
- The environmental benefits of vegan pet food
- Authors/Creators
- Andrew Knight
- Contributors
- Joyce D'Silva (Editor)Carol McKenna (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets: Human, Animal and Planetary Health, pp.92-104
- Series
- Earthscan Food and Agriculture
- Publisher
- Routledge, Taylor & Francis Ltd.; Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, UK; New York, NY, USA
- Edition
- 1st
- Identifiers
- 991005697144307891
- Copyright
- © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Joyce D’Silva and Carol McKenna; individual chapters, the contributors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Metrics
2 File views/ downloads
48 Record Views