Soy Doesn't Cause Deforestation - Animal Agriculture Is

If you're vegan - you're probably laughing at the title of the article already, but if you're not - read on. We're going to debunk one of the most persistent myths about soy production: the claim that growing soy for products like tofu drives deforestation, particularly in the Amazon rainforest. This baseless argument paints vegan diets as environmentally harmful.

When we look at the facts, the picture becomes much clearer: veganism is not the culprit—animal agriculture is.

The Truth About Soybean Usage

Global soybean production is largely dominated by one purpose: feeding livestock. According to the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (May 2019), 77% of the world’s soybeans are used to produce animal feed. The Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies further confirms that 80% of soy cultivated in the Amazon is used to feed livestock. Industry reports reveal that 98% of soybean meal, a byproduct of soybean oil production, is used for this same purpose.

In contrast, the soy used for direct human consumption—such as tofu, tempeh, and plant-based milk—makes up a small fraction of global soybean production. Most of the soy grown is intended to sustain the meat, dairy, and egg industries, not vegan diets.

The Inefficiency of Animal Agriculture

One of the biggest inefficiencies in our food system is feeding plants to animals rather than directly to humans. When soybeans are fed to livestock, only a small fraction of the calories and nutrients make it to the final product. For every 100 calories of soy consumed by animals, humans receive only about 12 calories in the form of meat or dairy.

In comparison, consuming soy directly—as tofu or soy milk—retains almost all of its caloric and nutritional value. The land currently dedicated to growing soy for animal feed could produce significantly more food for humans if used directly for crops meant for human consumption.

Deforestation and Livestock

Deforestation, especially in the Amazon, is heavily driven by the expansion of land for cattle grazing and soybean production for animal feed. Livestock farming is a major contributor to biodiversity loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental degradation. By decreasing the demand for animal products, we can significantly reduce the need for land conversion and protect critical ecosystems.

Soy grown for human consumption is often cultivated on already existing agricultural land, unlike the mass-scale deforestation required to meet the demand for livestock feed. Moreover, food-grade soybeans require fewer resources compared to the feed-grade soybeans that dominate global production.

Setting the Record Straight

The idea that tofu or other soy-based vegan foods are the primary cause of deforestation is a myth. The overwhelming majority of soybeans—up to 77%—are grown to feed livestock. The global demand for animal products fuels the need for soy-based feed, not the modest demand from the plant-based folks.

Reducing meat and dairy consumption would alleviate the pressure on agricultural systems, reduce deforestation, and allow us to reallocate resources toward more sustainable food production.

Subsidies and the price of Tofu

This is not super related to the article topic, but I have to mention how much governments lobbied by the meat and dairy industry are subsidizing animal agriculture which results not only in MORE deforestation but also in hijacked soy products pricing compared to the cost of animal products.

The local Tofu Manufacturer and I discuss this in this video:

The analysis of lobbying, subsidies and regulations showed that livestock farmers in the EU received 1,200 times more public funding than plant-based meat or cultivated meat groups. In the US, the animal farmers got 800 times more public funding.

The money spent on lobbying the US government by meat producers was 190 times more than for the alternatives and was three times higher in the EU. The researchers also found that almost all dietary guidelines avoided highlighting the environmental impact of meat production and bans on alternative products using terms such as “milk”.

The study, published in the journal One Earth, analysed the major EU and US agricultural policies from 2014 to 2020. It found the amount of public money spent on plant-based alternatives was just $42m (£33m) – 0.1% of the £35bn spent on meat and dairy. The former accounted for 1.5% of all sales. In the EU, cattle farmers got at least 50% of their income from direct subsidies.

For research and innovation spending, 97% went to animal farmers, with almost all of these funds aimed at improving production.

Conclusion

The narrative that veganism harms the environment by driving deforestation doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The real driver of deforestation is the livestock industry and its insatiable demand for animal feed. By choosing a plant-based diet, individuals can reduce their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote a more ethical and sustainable food system. Veganism isn’t part of the problem—it’s part of the solution.

Let me know if this version aligns with your vision!

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Sources:

• Global Soybean Markets - over 70 percent of soybeans grown in the U.S. are used for animal feed https://talkveganto.me/en/facts/soy-fed-to-livestock/  https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/wasde
• In 2024, 99% of soy consumers and traders are not vegan, and demand for soy is driven primarily by the livestock Industry. About 2% of the world's soy is used to produce food for human consumption https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/advQuery
• The size of subsidies for milk and livestock in Russia is from 50 to 70% https://www.dom.kurganobl.ru/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%8B%20%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%BA%D0%B8%20%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0%2002.07.2024.pdf
• Amount of waste created during meat production compared to soy ttps://undisciplinedenvironments.org/2016/01/28/what-does-virtual-water-conceal/
• How much water is spent on meat and soy production https://veganaustralia.org.au/news-article/water/
• Comparison of tofu prices in the US and Russia https://undisciplinedenvironments.org/2016/01/28/what-does-virtual-water-conceal/ https://ru.pinterest.com/pin/423971752419308980/
• Meat and dairy producers receive around $38 billion every year in financial assistance from the federal government, and it’s long been argued that these agricultural subsidies result in cheaper meat to American consumers. But do they really? https://sentientmedia.org/government-subsidies-make-meat-cheaper/
• Unless the world can slash the amount of animal products in its food system and embrace more plant-based diets, there is little chance of avoiding dangerous levels of climate change and mounting public health problems. https://theconversation.com/meat-and-dairy-gobble-up-farming-subsidies-worldwide-which-is-bad-for-your-health-and-the-planet-174644
• The researchers concluded that “powerful vested interests exerted their political influence to maintain the system unchanged and to obstruct competition created by technological innovations” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/18/gigantic-power-of-meat-industry-blocking-green-alternatives-study-finds

• Halving reliance on meat and dairy could cut land-use emissions ‘by 31%’ https://www.carbonbrief.org/halving-reliance-on-meat-and-dairy-could-could-cut-land-use-emissions-by-31/

• Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/31/avoiding-meat-and-dairy-is-single-biggest-way-to-reduce-your-impact-on-earth