New York, New York - Just in time for World Vegan Day, a new study has found that the current state of food production is threatening future global supplies, in particular due to high meat consumption.

November 1st marks World Vegan Day, an annual day advocating for the benefits of avoiding, rethinking, and providing alternatives for animal-based food products and diets.

The food industry as a whole is now responsible for two-thirds of global freshwater consumption, three-quarters of nutrient pollution in water bodies, and a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions, according to the new study The Coming Sustainable Food Revolution by consultancy PwC Strategy&.

In light of the continuing increase in the world's population, a change in food production is urgently needed, the study's experts urged, as the current system is not resilient.

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The Ukraine war alone was enough to trigger a dramatic increase in global food prices, the authors said, referring to the fact that Russia's invasion of the country has prevented much-needed food exports.

A key issue regarding global food production is the rising consumption of meat worldwide over the past decades, according to the study. Some 80% of agricultural land around the globe are now directly or indirectly used for meat production, while only covering 11% of the world's calorie consumption.

Changing eating habits is therefore a key measure to secure future global food supplies, the experts said. Even replacing beef with chicken could halve the carbon dioxide emissions from meat production and reduce water consumption by around 30%, according to the study.

The effect is even greater when switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet.

The study points out that at the same time, harvest techniques and supply chances have to become more efficient, to prevent foods from spoiling on their way to the consumer.

Currently, about a third of all food has to be thrown away due to delays and inefficiencies in harvesting, logistics, or trade.

According to the experts, the increased use of digital technology could bring significant improvements - for example, by optimizing irrigation and fertilization and accurately tracking goods during delivery.

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All of those changes combined could contribute significantly to securing the growing demand for food in a sustainable way, without significant price increases, the study found.

One thing is for sure: Meat production is having a huge impact on the environment, and will continue to endanger the planet unless big changes are made.