According to Multi-stakeholder group European Livestock Voice, new research using Nutritional Life Cycle Assessment (nLCA) reveals that meat and dairy products have a significantly lower environmental impact than previously estimated, while the footprint of plant-based foods increases when protein quality is considered. High-quality animal proteins require less food to meet nutritional needs, effectively halving their environmental impact. By Leatherbiz.

Another study, published by Italian researchers in Scientific Reports, found that when accounting for the essential amino acids required for a 70 kg human, beef outperformed several plant-based foods in environmental efficiency. Many plant-based options lack key amino acids, necessitating larger quantities and increasing their overall impact.

These findings underscore the need to integrate protein quality, digestibility, and bioavailability into nLCA for more accurate assessments of environmental sustainability.