This totem pole shows how much water is used in the production of 1 kcal of different types of food.

BEEF

POTATOES

FRUIT

VEGETABLES

Meat production (especially the production of beef) needed to feed an entire population uses significantly more resources such as water, energy or agricultural land than growing vegetables, fruit or cereal. Moreover the meat production industry is responsible for the emission of 58% of greenhouse gases as a result of agricultural activities while producing only 18% of the calories of food.

Sources:

Use of land

Our World in Data

Yields and Land Use in Agriculture

Link

Water consumption

Water Footprint Network

A Global Assessment of the Water Footprint of Farm Animal Products

Link

Other information

The Guardian

Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth

Link