Look Forwards
@lookforwards.bsky.social
The future only gets better when we stand up. We can spend all day only talking about how things should be or we can get to work making it happen
There is not much way around the fact that we must reduce production and consumption of animal products to get significant changes
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
There is not much way around the fact that we must reduce production and consumption of animal products to get significant changes
For a sense of scale here:
>To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately eighteen times less land, ten times less water, nine times less fuel, twelve times less fertilizer and ten times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef
>To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately eighteen times less land, ten times less water, nine times less fuel, twelve times less fertilizer and ten times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef
The environmental cost of protein food choices - PubMed
The substitution of beef with beans in meal patterns will significantly reduce the environmental footprint worldwide and should also be encouraged to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases. Societies must work together to change the perception that red meat (e.g. beef) is the mai …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
For a sense of scale here:
>To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately eighteen times less land, ten times less water, nine times less fuel, twelve times less fertilizer and ten times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef
>To produce 1 kg of protein from kidney beans required approximately eighteen times less land, ten times less water, nine times less fuel, twelve times less fertilizer and ten times less pesticide in comparison to producing 1 kg of protein from beef
> There’s not much overlap in emissions between the worst producers of plant proteins, and the best producers of meat and dairy.
ourworldindata.org/less-meat-or...
ourworldindata.org/less-meat-or...
Less meat is nearly always better than sustainable meat, to reduce your carbon footprint
Plant-based protein sources still have a lower footprint than the lowest-impact meat products.
ourworldindata.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
> There’s not much overlap in emissions between the worst producers of plant proteins, and the best producers of meat and dairy.
ourworldindata.org/less-meat-or...
ourworldindata.org/less-meat-or...
Mass production of animal products is uniquely worse, however. Changes to how it is produced unfortunately do not fix the issue
> Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
> Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Mass production of animal products is uniquely worse, however. Changes to how it is produced unfortunately do not fix the issue
> Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
> Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
I can keep going on, but I think this gets the general idea across
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
I can keep going on, but I think this gets the general idea across
Even if you use maximum animal manure, you still come out with less fertilizer by eating plants directly
>Thus, shifting from animal to plant sources of protein can substantially reduce fertilizer requirements, even with maximal use of animal manure
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
>Thus, shifting from animal to plant sources of protein can substantially reduce fertilizer requirements, even with maximal use of animal manure
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Even if you use maximum animal manure, you still come out with less fertilizer by eating plants directly
>Thus, shifting from animal to plant sources of protein can substantially reduce fertilizer requirements, even with maximal use of animal manure
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
>Thus, shifting from animal to plant sources of protein can substantially reduce fertilizer requirements, even with maximal use of animal manure
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
>plant-based replacements for each of the major animal categories in the United States (beef, pork, dairy, poultry, and eggs) can produce twofold to 20-fold more nutritionally similar food per unit cropland
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
>plant-based replacements for each of the major animal categories in the United States (beef, pork, dairy, poultry, and eggs) can produce twofold to 20-fold more nutritionally similar food per unit cropland
>Livestock farmers often claim that their grazing systems “mimic nature”. If so, the mimicry is a crude caricature. A review of evidence from over 100 studies found that when livestock are removed from the land, the abundance and diversity of almost all groups of wild animals increases
The most damaging farm products? Organic, pasture-fed beef and lamb
Analysis: You may be amazed by that answer, but the area of land used for grazing is vast compared with the meat and milk produced
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
>Livestock farmers often claim that their grazing systems “mimic nature”. If so, the mimicry is a crude caricature. A review of evidence from over 100 studies found that when livestock are removed from the land, the abundance and diversity of almost all groups of wild animals increases
> Plant-based foods have a significantly smaller footprint on the environment than animal-based foods. Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
www.mdpi.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
> Plant-based foods have a significantly smaller footprint on the environment than animal-based foods. Even the least sustainable vegetables and cereals cause less environmental harm than the lowest impact meat and dairy products
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14...
The trend holds more broadly. Studies looking at variation in farming practices tend to find even the worst plants come out ahead of the best-case meat production
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The trend holds more broadly. Studies looking at variation in farming practices tend to find even the worst plants come out ahead of the best-case meat production
> We also find that the current pastureland grass resource can support only 27% of the current beef supply (27 million cattle)
>Taken together, an exclusively grass-fed beef cattle herd would raise the United States’ total methane emissions by approximately 8%.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
>Taken together, an exclusively grass-fed beef cattle herd would raise the United States’ total methane emissions by approximately 8%.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
> We also find that the current pastureland grass resource can support only 27% of the current beef supply (27 million cattle)
>Taken together, an exclusively grass-fed beef cattle herd would raise the United States’ total methane emissions by approximately 8%.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
>Taken together, an exclusively grass-fed beef cattle herd would raise the United States’ total methane emissions by approximately 8%.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1...
>In order to produce the same quantity of beef as the present-day system, we find that a nationwide shift to exclusively grass-fed beef would require increasing the national cattle herd from 77 to 100 million cattle, an increase of 30%.
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
>In order to produce the same quantity of beef as the present-day system, we find that a nationwide shift to exclusively grass-fed beef would require increasing the national cattle herd from 77 to 100 million cattle, an increase of 30%.
Here's one study modeling just US consumption of grass-fed beef which found that using all grass-land in the entire country would only support 27% of US production
While still increasing methane emissions
While still increasing methane emissions
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Here's one study modeling just US consumption of grass-fed beef which found that using all grass-land in the entire country would only support 27% of US production
While still increasing methane emissions
While still increasing methane emissions
The scientific literature disagrees with that idea. Plants come out ahead on nearly every environmental metric
There is also limited ability to scale anything without factory farming. The production and consumption have to decrease for that to be viable
There is also limited ability to scale anything without factory farming. The production and consumption have to decrease for that to be viable
January 2, 2026 at 4:11 PM
The scientific literature disagrees with that idea. Plants come out ahead on nearly every environmental metric
There is also limited ability to scale anything without factory farming. The production and consumption have to decrease for that to be viable
There is also limited ability to scale anything without factory farming. The production and consumption have to decrease for that to be viable
Wait till you learn about Lemmy's bean meme. Was mostly a few years ago, but people there still go crazy for beans
Started when someone made a post of just beans and then it got >7 thousand upvotes
sh.itjust.works/post/715364
Started when someone made a post of just beans and then it got >7 thousand upvotes
sh.itjust.works/post/715364
I heard that lemmy will upvote anything. This is literally just a can of fucking beans - sh.itjust.works
sh.itjust.works
September 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Wait till you learn about Lemmy's bean meme. Was mostly a few years ago, but people there still go crazy for beans
Started when someone made a post of just beans and then it got >7 thousand upvotes
sh.itjust.works/post/715364
Started when someone made a post of just beans and then it got >7 thousand upvotes
sh.itjust.works/post/715364
@nytpitchbot.bsky.social see this whole thread ^
September 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
@nytpitchbot.bsky.social see this whole thread ^
It's worked before for a number of other movements. Above I also talk about how similar techniques got plant milk up charges to be removed in hundreds of chains (including big ones)
It's got risks of backfire, yes, but it definitely can work. Especially because of the later discussions it generates
It's got risks of backfire, yes, but it definitely can work. Especially because of the later discussions it generates
August 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
It's worked before for a number of other movements. Above I also talk about how similar techniques got plant milk up charges to be removed in hundreds of chains (including big ones)
It's got risks of backfire, yes, but it definitely can work. Especially because of the later discussions it generates
It's got risks of backfire, yes, but it definitely can work. Especially because of the later discussions it generates
Not the person you are replying to, but that one is mostly not true
www.snopes.com/fact-check/p...
Most of those kinds of viral claims about them turn out to be false. They are by no means free from issues, but their actual issues are generally much more boring and less exciting
www.snopes.com/fact-check/p...
Most of those kinds of viral claims about them turn out to be false. They are by no means free from issues, but their actual issues are generally much more boring and less exciting
August 15, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Not the person you are replying to, but that one is mostly not true
www.snopes.com/fact-check/p...
Most of those kinds of viral claims about them turn out to be false. They are by no means free from issues, but their actual issues are generally much more boring and less exciting
www.snopes.com/fact-check/p...
Most of those kinds of viral claims about them turn out to be false. They are by no means free from issues, but their actual issues are generally much more boring and less exciting
Now hundreds of coffee chains have now all dropped their up chargers which is a good win to get people to switch to plant milks
See below for a list of all 355 including other big chains
www.nomilktax.com/coffee-chain...
See below for a list of all 355 including other big chains
www.nomilktax.com/coffee-chain...
Coffee Chains that Don't Charge Extra for Non-Dairy Milk — No Milk Tax
The most comprehensive list of US coffee and restaurant chains that don't charge customers extra for non-dairy milk.
www.nomilktax.com
August 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Now hundreds of coffee chains have now all dropped their up chargers which is a good win to get people to switch to plant milks
See below for a list of all 355 including other big chains
www.nomilktax.com/coffee-chain...
See below for a list of all 355 including other big chains
www.nomilktax.com/coffee-chain...
For another instance, a number of people glued their hands to tables to protest Starbucks' non-dairy milk upcharge
It got a lot of people outraged, saying looks how stupid they are, but it actually worked. Viral videos / posts from it made people start talking about the issue which raised pressure
It got a lot of people outraged, saying looks how stupid they are, but it actually worked. Viral videos / posts from it made people start talking about the issue which raised pressure
August 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
For another instance, a number of people glued their hands to tables to protest Starbucks' non-dairy milk upcharge
It got a lot of people outraged, saying looks how stupid they are, but it actually worked. Viral videos / posts from it made people start talking about the issue which raised pressure
It got a lot of people outraged, saying looks how stupid they are, but it actually worked. Viral videos / posts from it made people start talking about the issue which raised pressure
The point is to get anger about [why do they care about or do silly thing] to raise awareness of [important thing]. It is strategic
Look how many people are now seeing an image in this thread which mentions issues with dairy farming because of it
A lot of groups do it because it works
Look how many people are now seeing an image in this thread which mentions issues with dairy farming because of it
A lot of groups do it because it works
August 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The point is to get anger about [why do they care about or do silly thing] to raise awareness of [important thing]. It is strategic
Look how many people are now seeing an image in this thread which mentions issues with dairy farming because of it
A lot of groups do it because it works
Look how many people are now seeing an image in this thread which mentions issues with dairy farming because of it
A lot of groups do it because it works
Maybe can try something along the line of this? Not sure if it's fun and snappy, but it's very memorable. Has stuck with me for a little while
August 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Maybe can try something along the line of this? Not sure if it's fun and snappy, but it's very memorable. Has stuck with me for a little while
Just to clarify here, I am not saying the private groups will necessarily themselves become more accurate in estimations. Just more accurate by comparison
August 1, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Just to clarify here, I am not saying the private groups will necessarily themselves become more accurate in estimations. Just more accurate by comparison