Less meat consumption improves groundwater quality: study
Through the circulation of the groundwater, the permafrost acts as a spring that supplies the hydrologically connected lakes in the region with greenhouse gases. The gases are finally emitted from the lakes into the atmosphere. ImageIve van Krunkelsven
Southern University of Science and Technology – Chinese researchers estimated that a 10 per cent decline in meat consumption can bring dividends to the water supply.
The study, conducted by researchers at SusTech in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China said moderate adjustments in dietary protein sources could significantly improve groundwater quality, providing a new pathway for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Livestock farming currently provides about a quarter of global human protein intake, occupies over 30 per cent of land resources and contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. In many regions — especially where intensive livestock farming is concentrated — nitrate concentrations in groundwater have significantly exceeded natural levels, threatening drinking water safety and posing a serious challenge to the achievement of the SDGs.
Using the United States as a case study, the researchers assessed the relationship between meat consumption and groundwater nitrate pollution from 1985 to 2020. With the continued expansion of the livestock industry, its influence on groundwater quality is projected to become even more pronounced.
The team simulated a 10 per cent reduction in conventional meat intake, with the protein gap filled by alternatives such as plant-based proteins, novel animal sources (e.g., insects) and biotech innovations (e.g., cultured meat or fungal proteins). The results indicated that such a substitution strategy could reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by 3.4 per cent, manure production by 10.7 per cent, and water usage by 4.5 per cent. More notably, it could lower the risk of groundwater nitrate exceedance (nitrate concentration >10 mg/L) by nearly 20 per cent. Despite the modest substitution rate, the environmental benefits are substantial — demonstrating a “small change, big impact” potential in pollution mitigation.
In the U.S., states such as Texas and Iowa account for roughly one-third of the national livestock inventory. Implementing reductions in these high-density farming regions could yield disproportionately large environmental improvements, with positive benefits extending to feed production areas and beyond. For countries such as China and India — where meat demand is rising rapidly, livestock density is high, and nitrogen use efficiency in agriculture remains low — these findings are particularly relevant.
The team’s findings demonstrate that guiding dietary transitions in a scientifically informed and regionally adaptive manner can meet nutritional needs while significantly reducing agricultural pressures on groundwater systems.
