Global diet not likely to become carnivorous as animal-source calorie consumption shares and human trophic levels stabilize in the long run
Abstract
We investigate the hypothesis that the global human diet will become carnivorous in the future. A long-term view of the development of global animal-source calorie consumption shares and human trophic levels is presented based on FAO food balance sheet and World Bank data. Our results show that across an analytically constructed period of 248 years both measures have stagnated in high-income countries since around 1985. Our findings imply that global food consumption patterns are not likely to endlessly increase the environmental burden associated with animal agriculture.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Volume
- 10
- Publication date
- 2 February 2026
- Language
- EN