Small reductions in meat and dairy consumption could significantly improve the health of people and the environment, a report led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has found.
The authors say this is the first comprehensive and integrated assessment of costs, benefits, health, environmental and climate change effects of the wider agricultural sector in the UK.
Livestock farming and the production and use of fertiliser to grow animal feed result in significant emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, as well as substantial use of water. For example, ammonia and nitrogen oxides interact with other compounds in the atmosphere to form particulate matter, which contributes to heart and lung disease, stroke, cancer and premature death.
The UKCEH-led study found a shift towards lower meat and dairy consumption and more fruit and vegetables would have greater potential health benefits than reduced exposure to particulate matter. Notably, older adults and people on lower incomes would experience the greatest benefits.
Multiple benefits
Professor Stefan Reis, a UKCEH Fellow who led the study, said: “Contrary to the belief that small changes in behaviour do not matter, our results show that even small or moderate changes in food consumption or agricultural practices can have multiple beneficial effects both for individuals and society as a whole.
“Meanwhile, for policy-makers, this report provides critical evidence that integrated strategies are important rather than single-issue actions, which are typically not cost-effective and may have unintended consequences.”
Meanwhile, a ‘high-ambition mitigation’ scenario integrating ammonia reduction measures with dietary shifts could prevent 67,000 premature deaths and 270,000 cases of respiratory diseases in the UK over 30 years. The study estimates that 20% tax on meat and dairy, coupled with a 20% subsidy on fruits and vegetables, could reduce meat consumption by 21.5% and increase fruit and vegetable intake by up to 13.5%.
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has been published in the journal Public Health Research.
The authors say their report went beyond previous research by directly engaging with a variety of stakeholders – including policy-makers, regulators, farmers, retailers, health professionals and community groups to identify topics and aspects that are directly relevant to people.
Report information
Reis et al. 2026. Assessing Mitigation Pathways to Realise Public Health Benefits of Air Pollutant Emission Reductions from Agriculture. Public Health Research. DOI: 10.3310/GJSR2325. Open access.
The team included Stefan Reis, Massimo Vieno, Rachel Beck, Ed Carnell, Ulrike Dragosits, Alison McCann and Angelica Orsi from UKCEH as well as co-authors from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Ecometrics Research and Consulting, Mind the Gap Research and Training, the University of Edinburgh and Rothamsted Research.
