You walk into a burger restaurant. What’s going through your mind? Double meat with extra bacon and cheese? Brown bun or added slice of avocado? Environmental degradation or ecological preservation?

You probably don’t think about the latter. But maybe you should.

Research shows that if cows were a nation, they would be the world’s third largest greenhouse gas emitter. As humans, meat production is one of the most destructive ways in which we leave our footprint on the planet.  

Hectares of rainforest in South America are cleared for cattle, to make our favorite classic burgers and steaks. One average quarter pounder beef burger drains around 1,695 liters of water, depending on where it is made, from precious resources.

Yet our demand for meat is going up. The Food and Agriculture Organization projects an increase of 76 per cent in global meat consumption by 2050. More meat will be eaten than ever before in our history.

And we will pay the environmental and human price—unless we make a change now.

Hidden costs add up

“We need to be realistic. Cutting meat out of the diet entirely is for many people just not an option,” said James Lomax, Sustainable Food Systems and Agriculture Programme Management Officer at UN Environment.

“Livestock production is a really important source of vitamins and protein—and income generation—for the world’s poor. And, small organic husbandry operations have a very different environmental footprint compared with industrial type livestock production,” he said.   

From grazing and pastoral systems in Africa and Latin America, to draft power in Asia and industrial farms in Europe and North America, each system has advantages and disadvantages, he added.

 “But at the core of the environmental issue is the way meat is produced, and crucially, consumed. We must explore ways to strike an ecological balance. Reducing intensively farmed meat consumption is good for people and the planet. That means eating a sustainably reared or alternative burger or steak now and then, rather than an intensively-farmed mass-produced version three times a week.”

The human costs

Massive demand for commercial meat supply has other consequences. Agriculture uses more freshwater than any other human activity. While raising animals takes up about 80 per cent agricultural land, livestock contribute to 18 per cent of the world’s calories.

Animal feed made from soy—one of the largest export commodities from South America—is leading to widespread deforestation and displacement of farmers and indigenous peoples around the globe.  

It is notoriously hard to pin down how the human diet—including meat consumption—contributes to death or disease, because of the many other factors at play. Yet we know that eating processed meat in excess has negative implications for our health.

Antibiotics used to rear livestock and keep animals disease-free often end up in our food, contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans. Recent concerns also highlight that fast-food chains use meat laden with antibiotics.

What are the alternatives?

We need to eat less or sustainably reared meat in parts of the world where meat consumption per person is high. Even replacing red meat with chicken can be more environmentally friendly.

Manufacturers of vegan and plant-based meat alternatives point out that their products typically contain less fat and cholesterol than their processed beef equivalent. There is a small but growing trend for meat-free “meat”. 

UN Environment’s Champions of the Earth winners Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have done research to strip the basic building blocks of meat down to protein, fat, water and trace minerals, recreating meat entirely from plants—at a fraction of the cost to the environment. 

Research by Beyond Meat and the University of Michigan Study found that the amount of water in your average swimming pool can produce 312 beef burgers or 60,837 Beyond Burgers.

The research also shows that Americans eat around three burgers a week. If one of these was swapped for a Beyond Meat plant-based alternative burger for one year, it would be like taking the greenhouse gases from 12 million cars off the road for a year.   

Both companies say their burgers require between 75 – 99 per cent less water; 93 – 95 per cent less land; and generate 87 – 90 per cent fewer emissions than regular beef burgers, consuming nearly half the energy to make.

These calculations factor in primary raw materials like ingredients, including coconut oil, citrus extract, potato starch and water, and transport, lighting and cold store distribution.

It’s time to weigh up the real cost of that burger.

Ahead of the United Nations Environment Assembly next March, UN Environment is urging people to Think Beyond and Live Within. Join the debate on social media using #SolveDifferent to share your stories and see what others are doing to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

When Bertrand Piccard was preparing for the world’s first ever solar-powered flight around the world, he had a problem. Cockpit temperatures were projected to skyrocket from minus 40 to above 40 degrees Celsius between night and day. Staying alive in those conditions would be impossible.

But he was not deterred. His dream to navigate the globe in a solar-powered aircraft to show the world that low-emission travel is not only possible, but necessary, was just beginning.

In partnership with Solar Impulse, Covestro - a leading producer of advanced polymers and high-performance plastics which also supports the Young Champions of the Earth prize - engineer Bernd Rothe was already looking for a solution.

Rothe was researching super light cockpit insulation which could withstand the violent temperature swings and meet the mechanical needs of the aircraft.

Inventing a unique solution

“Solar Impulse was looking for something special,” said Rothe. “Polyurethane foam is considered the best industrially available insulating material. After some research, we designed a polyurethane rigid foam which is strong, yet light enough to be picked up with one finger.”

The unique foam saves 70 times more energy during its lifetime than is required for its production. It is made from small gas bubbles enclosed by polyurethane. By experimenting with different gases trapped inside the cells of the foam, and the type of polyurethane used, the engineers managed to solve multiple challenges at once.

“We were really excited when we worked on this foam, because we realized these characteristics have implications for everyday items as well,” added Rothe. “Not only could we find a solution for the Solar Impulse project, our findings would go beyond this.”

For example, the new thermal insulation significantly improves the performance of refrigerators we have in our kitchens. “The better insulating properties of the foam allow us to significantly decrease the thickness in the walls,” explained Rothe.

#Solvedifferent in our everyday lives

“This means it’s possible for us to increase the volume of the fridge, without using more resources to make bigger fridges. We are not only making it possible to use less materials, we are also improving the efficiency of their insulation.”

In developing countries, only half of food produced reaches consumers on average. The new thermal insulation can also improve cold chains by keeping refrigerated food at cooler temperatures for longer.

“As a project leader for solar impulse, I learned that everything is possible. When we started this project, the goal was to fly without fuel. We did it. It is entirely possible that one day, we will make plastics without oil. We continue to push the boundaries of science to make sure that we no longer push the boundaries of our planet,” he said.

Mark Radka, chief of UN Environment’s Energy and Climate Technology Branch, said: “Our fast-paced lifestyles can no longer come at the cost of our environment. We must pick up the pace on technology innovation to bring sustainable solutions into everything we do.

“From refrigerating our food to lighting our homes, our daily lives too often have an environmental cost. Used wisely, technology can help us live cleaner, more sustainable lives.”

What’s next?

Insights gained from the Solar Impulse project have been analyzed by Covestro and are now merged in a new initiative by the Solar Impulse Foundation: The World Alliance for Efficient Solutions. The World Alliance brings together more than 1200 members to raise environmental awareness within industries.

Together with the support of the Solar Impulse Foundation and companies in the alliance support network, including Covestro, members can submit their efficient and clean solutions to receive the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, and form part of the #1000solutions portfolio. These will be presented at the UN climate conference in December 2018.

“Today there are already thousands of marketable solutions that could promote economic growth and preserve nature at the same time,” said Piccard. “However, they are often hidden in start-ups or research laboratories. Few know that those solutions are just waiting to be applied in a profitable way.”

Ahead of the United Nations Environment Assembly next March, UN Environment is urging people to Think Beyond and Live Within. Join the debate on social media using #SolveDifferent to share your stories and see what others are doing to ensure a sustainable future for our planet.

• Producers of revolutionary plant-based meats, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods win the 2018 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest accolade for the environment. 

• Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods produce sustainable alternatives to beef.

• Both businesses received their award during the Champions Gala event in New York.

26 September 2018 – Producers of sustainable, plant-based meats, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, have received the 2018 Champions of the Earth award for their breakthrough alternatives to meat-based food products. The United Nations named both companies Champions of the Earth for Science and Innovation.

The U.S. based companies came together at the annual Champions of the Earth awards ceremony on the sidelines of the General Assembly with a message to the world: It’s time to change the think about our food and our future.

The U.S. based companies put aside market competition and came together at the annual Champions of the Earth awards ceremony on the sidelines of the General Assembly with a message to the world: It’s time to change how we  think about our food and our future.

With a breakthrough approach to their respective products, Beyond Meat and Impossible foods are delivering sustainable choices to consumers worldwide. Livestock cultivation is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and together the process employed by these Champions of the Earth aims to show the world ecologically conscious decisions don’t have to mean sacrificing quality, convenience or in this case – taste.

“This proves that positive climate action can taste even better!” Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment said. “Saving the planet requires something of a gastronomical rethink in some parts of the world, and Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods prove that this doesn’t mean our taste buds are making the sacrifice.”

Working with top scientists in the fields of biology, chemistry, biophysics, plant and food science, along with engineers, the Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods teams strip down the core components of meat and extract them from plants instead, using ingredients like peas, beetroot, coconut oil and potato starch.

“At a high level, meat is composed of amino acids, water, lipids, trace minerals and water,” said Ethan Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Beyond Meat. “Animals use their digestive and muscular systems to convert vegetation and water into meat. We’re going straight to the plant, bypassing the animal, and building meat directly, with the added benefit of being more sustainable. We get better every year and are on a relentless march toward that perfect and indistinguishable build of meat from plants.”   

Started in 2009, Beyond Meat created a cutting-edge burger made from peas, potatoes, beet juice and coconut oil, without gluten, soy or GMOs. The Beyond Burger launched to sell-out demand in 2016 and made headlines for being the first plant-based burger to be so meat-like it was sold in the meat case at Whole Foods Market. It is now available at more than 22,000 grocery stores, restaurants, universities, hotels, theme parks and sports stadiums.

Impossible Foods was founded in 2011, launching its Impossible Burger five years later. The burger contains wheat, coconut oil, and potatoes. The revolutionary technology that causes this burger to “bleed” and have the signature iron aftertaste normally only experienced in beef burgers, is the addition of a key ingredient called heme, an iron-rich compound produced from yeast that gives meat its taste and helps give blood its color.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that big global problems are not someone else’s responsibility,” said Dr. Patrick O. Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impossible Foods. “This problem wasn’t going to be solved by pleading with consumers to eat beans and tofu instead of meat and fish. And it wouldn’t be enough just to find a better way to make meat; to succeed we would need to make the best meat in the world.”

The awards were presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York coinciding with the annual UN General Assembly meeting, which brings heads of states, ministers, and leaders of the public and private sector together to discuss some of the most urgent global issues.

The gala, attended by over 400 guests centered around some of the most radical positive forces for environmental change around the world.

Other winners of the Champions of the Earth Award were: the Zhejiang River Chiefs program, tackling water protection, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration; Joan Carling, a prominent activist championing indigenous and environmental; Cochin International Airport, the world's first fully solar-powered airport; and Emmanuel Macron & Narendra Modi for their international cooperation on environmental action and for spearheading the International Solar Alliance.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world. 

About Champions of the Earth

The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. Since being founded thirteen years ago, the awards have recognized 84 laureates – ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society. Visit the website here: http://web.unep.org/champions.  

For more information, please contact:

Keith Weller, UN Environment, Head of News and Media, keith.weller@un.org

• Joan Carling is one of the most prominent fighters for environmental and indigenous rights in the Philippines.
• UN Environment is recognizing Carling for her tireless environmental action with a Champions of the Earth Award.
• For more than 20 years, Carling has been at the forefront of the fight for land and the environment.

26 September 2018 – Joan Carling, one of the most prominent fighters for environmental and indigenous rights in the Philippines, has been recognized for her work with a Champions of the Earth Award for lifetime achievement, the UN’s highest environmental distinction. 

For more than 20 years, Carling has been at the forefront of the conflict for land and the environment, fighting for communities worldwide locked in deadly struggles against governments, companies and criminal gangs exploiting land for products like timber, minerals and palm oil, often bringing her into conflict with businesses and the Philippine government.

In her youth, Carling was inspired by the struggle against the construction of hydropower dams along the Chico River. If developed, these dams would have affected 16 towns and villages and displaced 100,000 tribal peoples, tearing apart their livelihoods and social fabric. Over the years, she has seen first-hand the environmental devastation caused by large dams and gold mining, and stood up against these projects.

“Joan Carling has shown us all the immense dedication and courage that has fueled her in her decades-long fight for environmental rights,” head of UN Environment Erik Solheim said. ”Unlike her adversaries, she is standing on the right side of history, and it’s our privilege and responsibility to stand alongside her.”

In February 2018, Carling’s name was added to a government list designating her a terrorist, outlaw, and threat to national security. Regardless of the threats she experiences in her home country, Carlin has continued to fight for environmental rights for decade, and is not even considering backing down.

“The global community must unite in solidarity and clamp down on tyrannical governments and corporations,” Carling said. “Defending environmental and human rights around the world must become a priority again. I share this award with every environmental activist, in recognition that there is hope that justice will prevail for our people and the planet.” 

Global Witness, an international organization aiming to protect human rights and the environment, found that almost four environmental defenders on average, are being killed per week, with many more harassed, intimidated and forced from their lands. Around 25 percent of the 207 environmental defenders killed in 2017 came from indigenous communities.

The award was presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York coinciding with the annual UN General Assembly meeting, which brings heads of states, ministers, and leaders of the public and private sector together to discuss some of the most urgent global issues.

The gala, attended by over 400 guests centered around some of the most radical positive forces for environmental change around the world.

Other winners of the Champions of the Earth Award were: Impossible Foods and Beyond meat, creating high-quality vegetarian meat-alternatives; the Zhejiang River Chiefs program, tackling water protection, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration; Cochin International Airport, the world's first fully solar-powered airport; and Emmanuel Macron & Narendra Modi for their international cooperation on environmental action and for spearheading the International Solar Alliance.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world. 

About Champions of the Earth

The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. Since being founded thirteen years ago, the awards have recognized 84 laureates – ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society. Visit the website here: http://web.unep.org/champions.

For more information, please contact:

Keith Weller, UN Environment, Head of News and Media, keith.weller@un.org

• Announced today, the Champions of the Earth Awards, the UN’s highest environmental honor, will be presented to six outstanding environmental changemakers.
• The champions are recognized for their achievements in the categories including Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision, Science and Innovation, Inspiration and Action, and Lifetime Achievement.

26 September 2018 – Six of the world’s most outstanding environmental changemakers will be recognized today with a Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental honor. This years’ laureates are recognized for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times. The winners of the 2018 Champions of the Earth Awards are:

• Joan Carling is recognized with the lifetime achievement award for her work as one of the world’s most prominent defenders of environmental and indigenous rights. Carling has been at the forefront of the conflict for land and the environment for more than 20 years. Her tireless and selfless fight for the environment has made her a champion to peoples and communities all over the globe.
• Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are jointly recognized in the Science and Innovation category, for their revolutionary development of a popular, plant-based alternative to beef, and for their efforts to educate consumers about environmentally conscious alternatives.
• Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, are recognized in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.
• China’s Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme is awarded for Inspiration and Action for the transformation of a once heavily polluted area of rivers and streams in East China's Zhejiang province. This exceptionally successful eco-restoration program shows the transformative power of economic and environmental development together.
• Cochin International Airport will take home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment. As the pace of society continues to increase, the world's first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that green business is good business.

“In a world of uncertainty, this is certain: We will not solve the extraordinary challenges our world faces today without extraordinary talent, new thinking and bold ideas,” said Head of UN Environment Erik Solheim. “The Champions of the Earth Award and Young Champions of the Earth Prize recognize those not afraid to chart unknown waters or be the voice of the voiceless. These people are changing our world today for a better tomorrow.”

The awards will be presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York City, on the sidelines of the 73^rd UN General Assembly. The gala, hosted by actor and environmental activist Alec Baldwin and model, actress, producer and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza, will bring together a cross section of world leaders and influencers to celebrate momentum for change in defense of our one planet.

The Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental recognition celebrating exceptional figures from the public and private sectors and from civil society, whose actions have had a transformative positive impact on the environment. Past laureates include: Afroz Shah, who led the world’s largest beach cleanup (2016), Rwandan President Paul Kagame (2016), former US Vice-President Al Gore (2007), Ocean Cleanup CEO Boyan Slat (2014), scientist-explorer Bertrand Piccard, and developer of Google Earth Brian McClendon (2013)

Also honoured at the event will be seven environmental trailblazers between the ages of 18 and 30, taking home the coveted Young Champions of the Earth Prize, for their ambitious project ideas to restore and protect the environment.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world. 

About Champions of the Earth

The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. Since being founded thirteen years ago, the awards have recognized 84 laureates – ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society. Visit the website.

About Weibo:

The Champions of the Earth are organised in partnership with Weibo – China’s leading social media outlet for people to create, share and discover content online. Weibo combines the means of public self-expression in real time with a powerful platform for social interaction, content aggregation and content distribution.Sina Weibo has over 431 million monthly active users. www.weibo.com

For more information, please contact:

Keith Weller, UN Environment, Head of News and Media, keith.weller[at]un.org

Joan Carling is an indigenous rights activist and environmental defender from the Philippines. She has been defending land rights from grassroots to international levels for more than 20 years. Her main concerns include protection of land rights of indigenous peoples, ensuring sustainable development of natural resources and upholding human rights of marginalized people. She has actively participated in global processes to defend these concerns, including those related to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and REDD+. She has twice served as the Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and Chairperson of the Cordillera People’s Alliance. She was appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council as an indigenous expert and served as a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues between 2014 and 2016. She is a member and co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for the Sustainable Development Goals. As an environmental defender, Joan has faced threats against her life and security. 

Joan Carling: Building resilience to overcome injustice

I have dedicated my life to teaching about human rights. I have spent much of it campaigning for environmental protection and sustainable development. So, I was surprised to learn that I was labelled as a terrorist.

In February this year, I was placed on a list of alleged armed rebels in the Philippines. I haven’t been home since. It has uprooted me: I fear for the safety of my family and friends. But I need to stay more motivated than ever. I cannot give up the fight for my people.

I am from the Kankanaey tribe of the northern region of Cordillera: the land of gold. Our land sits on a mineral belt, rich in gold, copper and manganese. It belongs to us, the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera. Yet, our natural resources and way of life are threatened by mining companies and other so-called “development projects”. As of July 2000, over half of the Cordillera land had mining applications pending.

Selling our environment: at what cost?

I spent my childhood in a remote forest under logging concession. Nomadic communities from the forest often visited, travelling up to six hours to exchange their sweet potato or other crops for rice or sugar, which they couldn’t grow themselves. My parents would offer a meal, and it was from these simple exchanges that I learned humility, reciprocity, and respect for our diverse indigenous communities and cultures.

In my youth, I was inspired by the struggle against the construction of hydropower dams along the Chico River. If developed, these dams would have affected 16 towns and villages and displaced 100,000 tribal peoples, tearing apart their livelihoods and social fabric. Many of those who opposed the dam were jailed. Macli-ing Dulag, a Kalinga tribal leader, was assassinated. More killings took place in the name of national security and development.

When I was at the University of the Philippines, I spent two months in the Kalinga tribal area who fought hard to stop the Chico dams. What I learned from indigenous communities is this: when we destroy our landscape, we destroy ourselves. By defending our land, we also defend our future and the generations to come.

I was struck by their sense of community; their simple lifestyles, their cooperation and selflessness. Their culture and values are intrinsically linked to the land, their livelihood and identity just like my own kankanaey people. The way these people care for each other and the environment deeply moved and inspired me.

Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand the environmental devastation caused by large dams and gold mining. To us, these are not development projects. They are not designed by us nor for us. This is just resource extraction. Mines leave massive toxic waste, and communities collapse. These projects cause mass displacement, worsen poverty and destroy the cultural heritage of our people.

I’ve seen indigenous peoples living in remote villages silenced, unable to raise their voice to protect their land and the environment. I have worked with them for more than a decade to raise awareness, through protests and dialogue. We engaged with mining companies, dam builders, local authorities and the media, and formed support groups alliances for the protection of human rights and the environment. Despite the threats, risks, and more repression, I persevered in my work, along with other dedicated leaders.

Time to strengthen our resilience!

Through my work with communities in the Philippines, in Asia and beyond, I have realized that this is a global issue. We need to bring voices of indigenous peoples to the debate and raise them in front of policymakers. Indigenous environmental defenders are experiencing the devastating effects of militarization to give way to development projects. Indigenous leaders are jailed and killed, while communities are powerless.  It’s heartbreaking, but it has also strengthened my commitment to work on human rights and environmental sustainability.

Together with other leaders, we are strengthening our networks and capacities. We are building alliances to protect our rights and the environment. We are campaigning regionally and globally for human rights and sustainable resource management, community-based climate change adaptation and renewable energy. In this way, we are building our resilience.

Indigenous peoples are not the enemies. We are not against development. We are conserving our environment for the future of humanity. But we cannot do this alone. The global community, governments, companies and civil society must act in solidarity, and assume responsibility for realizing sustainable development for all.

Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are joint winners of the Champions of the Earth Award, in the Science and Innovation category.   

Since prehistoric times, humans have used animals as a rudimentary technology to transform plant biomass into highly valued, nutrient-dense foods, including meat and dairy products. These foods remain an important source of nutrition and one of the greatest sources of pleasure in the daily lives of billions of people around the world.

But our use of animals as a food-production technology has brought us to the verge of catastrophe. The destructive impact of animal agriculture on our environment far exceeds that of any other technology on Earth, according to these founders.    

The greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture rivals that that of every car, truck, bus, ship, airplane, and rocket ship combined, they said. There is no pathway to achieve the Paris climate objectives without a massive decrease in the scale of animal agriculture, they added.

The magnitude of the problem has prompted two entrepreneurs to take action. Ethan Brown founded Beyond Meat in 2009; Patrick O’Reilly Brown founded Impossible Foods in 2011. Both believe that plant-based meat is the future.

The global community can eliminate the need for animals in the food system by shifting the protein at the centre of the plate to plant-based meat, say the founders. For their pioneering work towards reducing our dependence on animal-based foods, Ethan Brown and O’Reilly Brown have been selected 2018 Champions of the Earth in the category of science and innovation.

Ethan Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Beyond Meat

As a child, Ethan Brown became increasing interested in the question: what are the meaningful biological differences that justify which animals we eat, and which we don’t? The dilemma stuck.

It gnawed at him through University and into his work in the clean energy sector. By then, this dilemma had been joined by questions: what’s the most effective way to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – and aren’t livestock major contributors? Roughly 80 per cent of agricultural land is used to make livestock feed or for grazing– is there a better way to produce protein? Are certain amounts and types of animal protein harmful for our health?

“These four things kept coming back to me: human health, climate change, natural resource, and animal welfare implications of using animals for meat.  And what fascinated me is that you can simultaneously tackle all these concerns by simply changing the protein source for meat from animals to plants. If we shift our thinking to focus on the composition of meat versus its animal origin, we have a huge canvas to work from,” says Brown.

Meat is just so inefficient…

Working with top scientists, their teams strip down the core components of meat and extract them from plants instead, using ingredients like peas, beetroot, coconut oil and potato starch.

“Meat is composed of amino acids, lipids, minerals and water. Animals use their digestive and muscular systems to convert vegetation and water into meat. We’re going straight to the plant, bypassing the animal, and building meat directly. We get better every year and are on a relentless march toward that perfect and indistinguishable build of meat from plants,” Brown says.  

“Corn, soy and wheat dominate agriculture in America. We can replace that. Take that same piece of land to grow protein directly from plants, and we can slash natural resources needed, using land more efficiently.”  

According to a research study conducted by the University of Michigan, a quarter-pound Beyond Burger requires 99 per cent less water, 93 per cent less land and generates 90 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, using 46 per cent less energy to produce in the U.S. than its beef equivalent.

“What’s clear is that the way we produce meat today is not sustainable.  We are pushing limits on both natural resources and atmosphere,” says Brown. “We believe that by transitioning acreage currently dedicated to animal feed into protein crops that can be used directly for human consumption in the form of meat from plants, we can bring a step-change in efficiency, much needed innovation, and sustainable economic growth to rural economies here in the US and abroad.”

Dr. Patrick O. Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impossible Foods

As Member of the National Academy of Medicine and Professor of biochemistry at Stanford University in 2009, O. Brown took a sabbatical. He wanted to assess which global problems are the most urgent and which he could help to solve.

Using animals for food makes up the vast majority of the land footprint of humanity. All the buildings, roads and paved surfaces in the world occupy less than one per cent of Earth’s land surface, while more than 45 per cent of the land surface of Earth is used as land for grazing or growing feed crops for livestock.

Unless we act quickly to reduce or eliminate the use of animals as technology in the food system, O. Brown reasoned, we are racing toward ecological disaster. Impossible Foods has an ambitious goal: to reduce humanity’s destructive impact on the global environment, replacing the use of animals as a food production technology and eliminate animals as a food-production technology by 2035.

“By far the most urgent problem to me was the use of animals as a food production technology – the most destructive technology on earth,” he says. O. Brown is no stranger to disrupting the status quo, already having transformed the scientific publishing system by founding the Public Library of Science (PLOS).

Making Meat Better

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that big global problems are not someone else’s responsibility. This problem wasn’t going to be solved by pleading with consumers to eat beans and tofu instead of meat and fish. And it wouldn’t be enough just to find a better way to make meat; to succeed we would need to make the best meat in the world.”

The team made an important discovery: the “magic ingredient” heme - an iron-containing molecule that occurs naturally in every cell of every animal and plant. It is responsible for the unique flavours and aromas of meat.

O. Brown and his team found that by adding a plant gene to yeast cells, they could produce heme in unlimited quantities, with a tiny fraction of the environmental impact. The Impossible Burger requires approximately 75 per cent less water and 95 per cent less land, generating about 87 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions than beef burgers.

“Based on all we’ve learned, there's no question that the use of animals as a food-production technology will soon be obsolete. Making meat directly from plants is not only far less destructive to the environment, but it will enable meat to be more delicious, healthy, diverse, and affordable. Create the best meat in the world, let consumer choice drive the change and the use of animals as food technology will soon be a fading memory.”

Since prehistoric times, humans have used animals as a rudimentary technology to transform plant biomass into highly valued, nutrient-dense foods, including meat and dairy products. These foods remain an important source of nutrition and one of the greatest sources of pleasure in the daily lives of billions of people around the world.

But our use of animals as a food-production technology has taken a heavy toll on the environment and raised some serious concerns about the future of food production.

“Efficient farming is not just a matter of production,” said James Lomax, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Programme Manager. “It is also about environmental sustainability, public health and economic inclusivity.”

Research shows that greenhouse gas emissions from animal-based food are almost double that of plant-based meat. But there are still significant knowledge gaps when it comes to the operational factors of these new food sources that need addressing before we can get the full picture of their carbon footprint. Experts also say that there is no "one-size-fits-all” model for sustainable food system transformation and that economic, political, and cultural contexts should be considered to realise this mitigation potential.

The magnitude of our food system problem has prompted two entrepreneurs to take action. Ethan Brown founded Beyond Meat in 2009 and Patrick O’Reilly Brown founded Impossible Foods in 2011. Both believe that plant-based meat is the future.

According to Brown and O. Brown, the greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture rivals that that of every car, truck, bus, ship, airplane, and rocket ship combined. Beef, the most commonly consumed meat requires “20 times more land and [emits] 20 times more GHGs per gram of edible protein than common plant proteins, such as beans, peas and lentils.” There is no pathway to achieve The Paris Climate Agreement’s objectives without a massive decrease in the scale of animal agriculture.

Brown and O. Brown argue that the global community can eliminate the need for animals in the food system by shifting the protein at the centre of the plate to plant-based meat. For their pioneering work towards reducing our dependence on animal-based foods, they have been selected 2018 Champions of the Earth in the category of science and innovation.

Ethan Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Beyond Meat

As a child, Ethan Brown became interested in the question: what are the meaningful biological differences that justify which animals we eat, and which we don’t? The dilemma stuck.

It gnawed at him through university and into his work in the clean energy sector. By then, this dilemma had been joined by questions: what’s the most effective way to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – and are livestock major contributors? Roughly 80 per cent of agricultural land is used to make livestock feed or for grazing– is there a better way to produce protein? Are certain amounts and types of animal protein harmful for our health?

“These four things kept coming back to me: human health, climate change, natural resource, and animal welfare implications of using animals for meat.  And what fascinated me is that you can simultaneously tackle all these concerns by simply changing the protein source for meat from animals to plants. If we shift our thinking to focus on the composition of meat versus its animal origin, we have a huge canvas to work from,” said Brown.

Unsustainable production

Working with top scientists, their teams strip down the core components of meat and extract them from plants instead, using ingredients like peas, beetroot, coconut oil and potato starch.

“Meat is composed of amino acids, lipids, minerals and water. Animals use their digestive and muscular systems to convert vegetation and water into meat,” said Brown. “We’re going straight to the plant, bypassing the animal and building meat directly. We get better every year and are on a relentless march toward that perfect and indistinguishable build of meat from plants.”   

In 2018, Beyond Meat commissioned The Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan to conduct an environmental assessment study of its plant-based burger patty. The study revealed that a quarter-pound Beyond Burger requires 99 per cent less water, 93 per cent less land and generates 90 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, using 46 per cent less energy to produce in the U.S. than its beef equivalent.

“What’s clear is that the way we produce meat today is not sustainable.  We are pushing limits on both natural resources and atmosphere,” said Brown. “We believe that by transitioning acreage currently dedicated to animal feed into protein crops that can be used directly for human consumption in the form of meat from plants, we can bring a step-change in efficiency, much needed innovation, and sustainable economic growth to rural economies here in the US and abroad.”

Dr. Patrick O. Brown, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impossible Foods

A Member of the National Academy of Medicine and Professor of biochemistry at Stanford University , O. Brown took a sabbatical in 2009. He wanted to assess which global problems are the most urgent and which he could help solve.

Using animals for food makes up the vast majority of the land footprint of humanity. All the buildings, roads and paved surfaces in the world occupy less than one per cent of Earth’s land surface, while more than 45 per cent of the land surface of Earth is used as land for grazing or growing feed crops for livestock.

Unless we act quickly to reduce or eliminate the use of animals as technology in the food system, O. Brown reasoned, we are racing toward ecological disaster. Impossible Foods has an ambitious goal: to reduce humanity’s destructive impact on the global environment, replacing the use of animals as a food production technology and eliminate animals as a food-production technology by 2035.

“By far the most urgent problem to me was the use of animals as a food production technology – the most destructive technology on earth,” he said. O. Brown is no stranger to disrupting the status quo, already having transformed the scientific publishing system by founding the Public Library of Science (PLOS).

Making Meat Better

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that big global problems are not someone else’s responsibility. This problem wasn’t going to be solved by pleading with consumers to eat beans and tofu instead of meat and fish. And it wouldn’t be enough just to find a better way to make meat; to succeed we would need to make the best meat in the world.”

The team made an important discovery: the “magic ingredient” heme - an iron-containing molecule that occurs naturally in every cell of every animal and plant. It is responsible for the unique flavours and aromas of meat.

O. Brown and his team found that by adding a plant gene to yeast cells, they could produce heme in unlimited quantities, with a tiny fraction of the environmental impact. The Impossible Burger requires approximately 75 per cent less water and 95 per cent less land, generating about 87 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions than beef burgers.

“Based on all we’ve learned, there's no question that the use of animals as a food-production technology will soon be obsolete. Making meat directly from plants is not only far less destructive to the environment, but it will enable meat to be more delicious, healthy, diverse, and affordable,” said O. Brown. “Create the best meat in the world, let consumer choice drive the change and the use of animals as food technology will soon be a fading memory,” he added.

Editor’s Note:

The title of this story has been changed and some of the data has been updated.

Zhejiang province derives its name from the Zhe River, meaning “crooked” or “bent” river. The rivers of Zhejiang Province have long been vital for communities, flowing through ancient towns, among traditional white-walled and black-roofed houses, feeding fertile rice fields.

Yet Zhejiang is also one of the richest and most developed provinces in China. It generates around six per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and ranks fourth among provinces for economic development. This rapid industrial development came at a cost.

Ancient houses were demolished, watercourses were damaged and river banks collapsed. Domestic and industrial wastewater discharged into water canals turned the clear waters black.

Then, during a visit to Anji County, President Xi Jinping, Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party committee at the time, said: "We do not promote economic development at the expense of the environment. Clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

River chiefs: working together to reverse environmental destruction

To bring Zhejiang Province back from the brink of destruction, he launched the Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme, with ecological development at its core. The programme aimed to incorporate water management, waste management and recycling to transform the province. 

Among other reforms, 61,000 river chiefs were appointed to manage all water bodies. Their role is to protect and take full responsibility for rivers and waterways throughout the region, preventing and controlling pollution, and managing ecological restoration.

Today, 97 per cent of villages in Zhejiang have transformed their polluted waterways into clean, drinkable rivers, benefitting 30 million residents. Shen Ming Quan, River Chief and Head of Anji County in Zhejiang Province, is one of them.

His county, Anji County, is the bamboo backdrop of the martial arts battle scene of the Oscar-winning film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In China, the county is heralded for its efforts to champion both ecological conservation and rich agricultural production.

"We are working on the frontline of environmental protection," he says. "We must make the right choice for our future. Together, we opt for environmental protection over development, to deliver higher living standards for our communities. As river chiefs, we are proud of the ecological benefits we have achieved for the entire community.”

Thriving again

Anji white tea, grown nowhere else in the country, fetches a high price and Anji’s climate is also ideal for growing alpine vegetables. As well as supporting development of agriculture and other eco-economies such as bamboo production, the county has successfully integrated responsibilities of river chiefs with progressive development.

The results of the mission to clear-up Zhejiang can be attributed to many people. Communities have come together to ensure success. In addition to the efforts of the river chiefs, multiple-channel financing, led by the municipal government, has been complemented by social funds, loans from international financial institutions and even individual donations.

New domestic waste processing systems have been installed in all villages throughout the province. Effective recycling and treating toilet sewage, kitchen sewage and washing waste water are also underway. Eighty per cent of historic buildings have been restored, with water, sanitation and electrical infrastructure overhauled to become more efficient. Waterways have been cleared, with river banks blooming into scenic spots.

"Protecting our ecology and environment is a global consensus and one of the most pressing issues of our time," says Shen. "Our communities require and demand a better life, which means combining good ecological development not at the cost of our environment, but in harmony with it."