Findings

Completed projects addressing this RFP provide innovative solutions and insights into expanding the presence of plant-based foods through nudges and policies.

Nudging is an increasingly popular way to reduce animal product consumption. A recent study applied this intervention in a food service setting where staff dispensed portions in real-time at made-to-order entree stations. Putting 25% less meat in a burrito resulted in approximately 18% less meat consumed daily with no detriment to diner satisfaction. However, when meat portions were reduced by 50%, and the meals were varied, the diners more regular, and lunch specials were offered, there was a smaller reduction of meat served and decreased diner satisfaction. There was also a backfiring effect where diners consumed more meat for dinner. In made-to-order settings, default nudges may be more likely to succeed by using large-portion meals that conceal the contents, such as burritos and tamales. Larger meat reductions are riskier and might benefit from an offset with proportional compensations in plant-based protein.

A survey of staff in U.S. municipal-level sustainability offices and organizations found that programs and policies specifically focused on promoting plant-based eating are uncommon. It appears hesitancy towards such programs is partly due to perceived socio-cultural and institutional/structural barriers, such as likelihood of push-back from powerful interest groups, concerns over equity and threatening others’ autonomy, and lack of political will. Incentives to offer plant-based meals and purchase programs were perceived as more feasible than other interventions such as taxes on animal products.

Finally, this last study examined the impact of food produced for cats and dogs. In the U.S., animal-based ingredients comprised (by mass) just over half of the ingredients used within dog and cat food. Food classified as nonhuman consumable accounted for just over half of animal-based ingredients, which were less efficient to produce than human consumable sources. In the U.S., dogs consumed 18% of average farmed animals, cats 2%, globally, the respective shares were 8% and 1.2%, respectively. Full transition to nutritionally-sound vegan diets for cats and dogs would save approximately 1.9 billion terrestrial farmed animals in the U.S. annually (6 billion globally) and billions of aquatic animals. Other benefits would include decreases in land and water use, greenhouse and land use gas emissions, and biocide use.