Ruminant livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats are particularly resource-intensive commodities to produce, requiring seven times as much land as poultry and pork and 20 times more than beans per gram of protein. Pasture expansion for beef production, in particular, drives over 40% of tropical deforestation. At the same time, ruminant livestock production provides livelihoods to millions of pastoralists, produces high-quality bioavailable protein and micronutrients, and uses arid lands that could not otherwise produce crops. In addition to sustainably increasing ruminant meat productivity, moderating ruminant meat consumption will be essential for reducing agricultural land demand and meeting global climate goals while feeding more people.  
Dietary shifts away from ruminant meat toward plant-based foods should be concentrated within high-consuming regions in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania,* where protein consumption is well above dietary requirements and alternative protein options are widely available. After declining for several decades, per capita ruminant meat consumption across high-consuming regions plateaued between 2016 and 2020, hovering around 91 kilocalories per day. 

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* This diet shift does not apply to populations within the Americas, Europe, and Oceania that 1) already consume less than 60 kcal/capita/day and/or 2) have micronutrient deficiencies and/or 3) do not have access to affordable and healthy alternatives to ruminant meat. FAOSTAT’s definition of Oceania includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. 

Ruminant livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats are particularly resource-intensive commodities to produce, requiring seven times as much land as poultry and pork and 20 times more than beans per gram of protein. Pasture expansion for beef production, in particular, drives over 40% of tropical deforestation. At the same time, ruminant livestock production provides livelihoods to millions of pastoralists, produces high-quality bioavailable protein and micronutrients, and uses arid lands that could not otherwise produce crops. In addition to sustainably increasing ruminant meat productivity, moderating ruminant meat consumption will be essential for reducing agricultural land demand and meeting global climate goals while feeding more people.  
Dietary shifts away from ruminant meat toward plant-based foods should be concentrated within high-consuming regions in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania,* where protein consumption is well above dietary requirements and alternative protein options are widely available. After declining for several decades, per capita ruminant meat consumption across high-consuming regions plateaued between 2016 and 2020, hovering around 91 kilocalories per day. 

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* This diet shift does not apply to populations within the Americas, Europe, and Oceania that 1) already consume less than 60 kcal/capita/day and/or 2) have micronutrient deficiencies and/or 3) do not have access to affordable and healthy alternatives to ruminant meat. FAOSTAT’s definition of Oceania includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.