Agriculture currently uses one third of the available land globally. Livestock production accounts for 70% of all this agricultural land, while cropland occupies the remaining 30%.[1] Yet livestock provides less than 20% of calories humans get from food.

Competition for land for the cultivation of soy for food and feed uses has been growing in some countries and regions (e.g, South America). Currently, soy production accounts for 131 million hectares of land used globally. This has resulted not only in the conversion of land already exploited for other agricultural uses, but also in the significant reduction of natural habitats and ecosystems (e.g., rainforests). Intensive farming practices and use of plant protection products in soy cultivation are also associated with soil erosion. [2] 

Insects, microbial fermentation and cultured meat all require feedstocks, which contribute to their land use impacts.

However, all of the alternative proteins analysed demonstrate equivalent or lower land use compared to the conventional proteins they may replace, with algae and insects being particularly efficient with respect to land use. Efforts to identify and use less impactful feedstock sources for alternative proteins may further reduce their land use impacts.

Algae

Insects

Microbial fermentation

Cultured meat