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Plant-Based Diets Could Cut Agricultural Jobs by Millions

11/4/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study by the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute finds plant-based diets could reduce agricultural labor by 5–28% by 2030, equal to 18–106 million jobs.
The shift could lower annual global agricultural labor costs by $290–995 billion.
Livestock-reliant countries may lose jobs.
Lower-income nations could add 18–56 million horticulture workers.
Researchers urge policy planning, retraining, and investment for a fair transition, and findings appear in The Lancet Planetary Health.

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Story summary

A study by the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute finds plant-based diets could reduce agricultural labor by 5–28% by 2030, equal to 18–106 million jobs.
The shift could lower annual global agricultural labor costs by $290–995 billion.
Livestock-reliant countries may lose jobs.
Lower-income nations could add 18–56 million horticulture workers.
Researchers urge policy planning, retraining, and investment for a fair transition, and findings appear in The Lancet Planetary Health.