A new survey commissioned by the Brazilian Vegetarian Society and carried out by the Datafolha Institute has found that the majority of Brazilians would be open to reducing their meat consumption, or even eliminating meat from their diets.
When over 2,000 people were asked whether they would consider eating less meat, 74% of respondents said they were willing to do so to some degree in order to improve their health. 43% said the environment would be a factor in their decision to reduce their meat consumption, while 42% cited animal welfare.
“Our society is moving towards a more ethical, sustainable, and healthy future”
The results come as Brazil prepares to host this year’s UN climate summit, COP30. The event takes place in November in the city of Belém, located in the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon has seen significant deforestation for decades, driven largely by cattle farming operations. At last year’s COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, Nilza de Oliveira, Brazil’s Director of Operations in the Extraordinary Secretariat for COP30, announced the Brazilian government’s commitment to providing sustainable, healthy food – including plant-based options – at COP30.
“The fact that 74% of Brazilians are open to reducing or eliminating meat consumption shows us that change is happening and that our society is moving towards a more ethical, sustainable, and healthy future,” said Monica Buava, President of the Brazilian Vegetarian Society.
Plant-based market surpasses expectations
In 2024, The Good Food Institute Brasil claimed that the country’s alternative protein market would see a significant transformation throughout the year, driven by technological innovations, changes in consumption patterns, and growing awareness of health and the environment.
Last November, it was reported that Brazil’s plant-based market was on track to surpass growth expectations, after retail sales of meat and seafood alternatives increased by 38% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
“These are incredible statistics coming out of Brazil which illustrate the heightened awareness that the population has of the impact of meat consumption on human health, the environment, and animals,” said Aline Baroni, Director of ProVeg Brazil. “Most Brazilians are already eating more meat than officially recommended. So rising awareness of the impact of meat consumption needs to translate into policies that actively promote accessibility and affordability of plant-based foods, aligned with our dietary guidelines, to allow people to more easily transition to healthy, sustainable diets.”
