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Health & Science3h 40m ago
A single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.
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global (Netherlands, UK, Switzerland, US mentioned)
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 approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.
When
Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:30:05 GMT · 3h 40m ago
Where
global (Netherlands, UK, Switzerland, US mentioned) ·
Why
This environmental cost is due to the water needed for feed crops and the carbon emissions from enteric fermentation, land-use change, and farm activities.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
The production of beef has a significant environmental footprint, with global average figures highlighting substantial water usage and greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram of meat. American beef consumption alone accounts for environmental impacts roughly double the UK's total annual emissions, suggesting that dietary choices, particularly reducing beef consumption, could lead to substantial environmental benefits.
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6 events in this thread- Health & Science3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.Open article
- Health & Science3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates about 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.Open article
- Health & Science3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.Open article
- Health & Science3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.Open article
- Currently Reading3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.
- Health & Science3h 40m agoA single kilogram of conventionally farmed beef requires approximately 15,400 litres of water to produce and generates approximately 99 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.Open article