Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes meat, poultry, fish and shellfish. Some vegetarians, known as pescetarians, consume fish and shellfish, where as others, known as vegans, do not eat any animal products.

In the context of the environment, the vegetarian diet is in fact a practical way to ensure a sustainable future for the planet.  Earth’s natural resources are dwindling, while the population grows at an exponential rate and their appetite increases.  With the amount of agricultural viable land decreasing, a dilemma arises where the world must decide what to do with the land: grow crops to feed the people, or grow crops to feed livestock.

Today, 30% of the world’s surface is being devoted to feeding livestock1.  Whether it is directly through grazing or the production of corn and grains for their diet, the meat industry is slowly deterring the ability of the planet to keep up with our current eating habits.  Grazing contributes to the degradation of the soil, yielding infertile earth in the long run.  With a greater percentage of the corn industry going to feed livestock or into processed foods, less acreage is for the production of vegetables solely for human consumption.

Americans have the highest meat consumption in the world, despite the fact that the energy input to protein output is at least 10 times higher in grain crops versus animal-based foods.  As it is, the obesity epidemic that currently plagues our nation stems from the over-consumption of food.  By consuming a vegetarian diet, you can decrease the number of steps from the farm to your plate, as well as help Earth become a more sustainable resource for the generations to come.

References:
1. http://www.kkl.org.il/kkl/english/main_subject/curb%20global%20warming/livestock%20grazing-combats%20or%20spreads%20desertification.x