A worldwide shift toward healthier diets, more efficient farming, and far less food waste could fundamentally change what farmers produce and how agricultural land is used by 2050.
New modeling suggests that following these recommendations could reduce global farmland use by as much as 6% compared with current trends. At the same time, the total value of livestock production could fall by 42% ($630 billion) compared with 2020.
Fewer Herds and More Plant Foods
The biggest changes would occur in the production of ruminant animals (beef cattle, sheep, and goats). By 2050, the global value of this sector could decline by an estimated 70% ($274bn), with roughly 400 million fewer ruminant animals worldwide than in 2020.
Plant-based food production would move in the opposite direction. The combined global value of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes could rise by 57% ($890bn).
