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The Economist6 min

How could veganism change the world?

Jaap Korteweg

Documentary, Other

Facing a projected 10 billion population and a food system responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts warn that without a shift toward plant-based diets, climate targets will remain out of reach. Industry leaders like Jaap Korteweg of The Vegetarian Butcher are demonstrating the viability of this transition by repurposing meat-processing infrastructure for plant alternatives, a move projected to save $1 trillion annually in healthcare costs while drastically reducing land use. Although a fully vegan world by 2050 is considered unlikely, policymakers and industry stakeholders agree that widespread adoption of plant-based foods is essential to avoid dangerous climate thresholds and improve public health outcomes.