Is a Plant-based diet the future?

I believe the majority of the population in developed countries and a significant chunk in developing countries will adopt a more plant-based diet in the future. There are multiple reasons why this shift to a plant-based diet could happen. I will expound upon a few of them in this article.

Availability of plant-based alternatives

We rely a lot on dairy and meat for our diet today, but this is bound to change as alternatives to meat and dairy become readily available. Plenty of plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and any cuisine are available in developed countries. The availability of the same is also increasing in developing countries like India. Today, there are alternatives to dairy and meat available on most e-commerce platforms. Though these products are expensive today, they will get cheaper as adoption and competition in the vegan food market increase. With an abundance of plant-based options, it would be easier to see the holocaust we bring to the lives of billions of animals every year.

The allure of plant-based foods

When electric vehicles were nascent, they were expensive and not technologically superior to conventional ones. Many people were resistant to change because they preferred the roaring sound and speed of the IC engine. In most aspects, electric vehicles are better than their IC engine counterparts today, and it is evident that the future will be electric. I believe the same should happen with plant-based foods. As tastier, healthier, cheaper and readily available plant-based options become commonplace, the shift will be spontaneous for most people. People will prefer to eat food that tastes similar or better over choosing to kill animals just for the sake of it.

The Influencer effect

We get influenced by the people we follow and love. The number of athletes, actors, and artists adopting a plant-based diet is increasing, and they are vocal about their choices. I believe as the number grows, many of their followers will try to adopt the same.

Preference for healthier eating

There is no single diet that is unanimously considered healthier than others. But there is some consensus on the fact that eating more plants and vegetables is generally healthier. Many scientific studies have shown that a plant-based diet improves athletic performance and provides healthier nutrition. That might be the reason for many athletes adopting a plant-based diet. As more people realise the benefits, it will motivate others to do the same.

Animal conservation and climate change

With the growing population, we are killing more animals for food than ever before.

Around 88 billion+ animals are bred, reared and slaughtered for food globally, accounting for 15-16% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Animal agriculture requires an enormous amount of land, water, and energy, compared to plant agriculture. The resulting deforestation and climate change have led many species to extinction, and many are on the verge of extinction. As governments and other organizations become more sensitive to these impacts, there will be a more significant push to promote the adoption of plant-based foods.

Many factors are in play here, and people will change depending upon the one that affects them the most. It would be a gradual and slow change as changing preferences developed over thousands of years does take time. But it is bound to happen as it is essential for the well-being of humanity.