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Health & Science3h 48m ago

A single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates about 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.

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Netherlands, Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, India, sub-Saharan Africa, Argentina

Who
Mesfin Mekonnen, Arjen Hoekstra, Joseph Poore, Thomas Nemecek
What
A single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates about 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.
When
Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:30:05 GMT · 3h 48m ago
Where
Netherlands, Switzerland, United States, United Kingdom, India, sub-Saharan Africa, Argentina ·
Why
The environmental impact of beef production is significant, with studies quantifying its water and carbon footprints based on farming practices across various regions.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

Global beef consumption, particularly in countries like the United States, contributes substantially to water usage and greenhouse gas emissions, with the average carbon footprint of American beef consumption being roughly double the UK's entire annual emissions. Reducing beef consumption or shifting to less intensive production methods could significantly lower these environmental burdens.

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