While it's widely known that reducing fossil fuel use is very important, few people realize that radical changes in the food system will be essential to prevent extreme events of climate change such as droughts, flooding, and other consequences. In fact, agriculture, forestry, and land-use change account for more than 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. With an increasing population on the Earth and continuing need for food, these emissions, unless actively addressed, are expected to increase. In the eco-friendly future, human beings can avoid the worst impacts of climate change by switching to plant-based foods from animal-based ones.

So, what are plant-based foods? Generally speaking, they are derived from plant sources and classified into fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, and meat substitutes including soy products. What differentiates plant-based food from their animal-based counterparts is that their fiber fraction is made of indigestible compounds.

The benefits of plant-based foods in relation to climate change are irrefutable. According to a study by Oxford researchers in 2018, a thorough analysis of the damage of farming found that avoiding meat and dairy products was the single most significant way to reduce our environmental impact on the planet. More specifically, their research indicated that reducing meat and dairy consumption could reduce global farmland use by more than 75%, or an area of land bigger than the US, China and Australia combined.

However, the change may not be straightforward as it will require coordination between various sectors and governments as well as acceptance by the public. The transition needs both patience and time.