Think Soy Is the Problem? Here's What You're Not Being Told
Why tofu and soy milk aren’t the real drivers of deforestation...and what actually is.
If you’ve ever talked about going plant-based, you’ve probably heard this:
“But soy is terrible for the environment!”
It’s a common argument, and at face value, it seems like a valid concern. After all, soy farming is one of the leading drivers of deforestation, especially in places like the Amazon. It’s linked to water pollution, pesticide use, and land degradation. So surely, eating tofu can’t be that sustainable… right?
Well, here’s the truth:
👉 Only about 6% of global soy is consumed directly by humans in foods like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, and edamame.
👉 The rest? Roughly 90% is used to feed animals in the meat, dairy, and egg industries.
So if you’re worried about soy destroying rainforests, your real concern shouldn’t be the soy latte.
It should be the beef, chicken, or cheese on your plate.
🌱 The Soy Myth, Debunked
Soy has become the poster child for plant-based protein, and with that has come a lot of misinformation.
Here’s what most people don’t realise:
Most soy is grown to feed livestock, not people.
A huge percentage of that soy is fed to chickens, pigs, and cows, particularly in factory farming systems.
The environmental cost of soy is largely embedded in animal products, not plant-based foods.
That means when someone eats a chicken sandwich or a steak, they’re indirectly consuming a large amount of soy because it was used to fatten the animal first.
And unlike tofu, this route involves far more land, water, and emissions for the same amount of protein.
🐄 Soy, Meat, and Deforestation
Let’s put this into context:
Vast areas of the Amazon and Cerrado regions in South America have been cleared to grow soy.
But the goal isn't to feed vegans, it’s to feed billions of farmed animals in the global meat and dairy industries.
Much of this soy is exported to Europe, China, and North America to fuel high meat demand.
If you’re someone who’s conscious about sustainability, this is a critical detail.
Reducing your meat and dairy intake is one of the most effective ways to reduce your contribution to soy-driven deforestation.
Because if we ate the soy directly, we’d need far less land, far fewer inputs, and we’d spare the forests in the process.
🧠 Reframing the Conversation
This matters because misinformation creates misplaced blame.
It lets people feel morally justified in rejecting plant-based food on environmental grounds, when in fact, the most environmentally damaging use of soy is the one hiding in plain sight: animal feed.
Tofu is not destroying the Amazon.
Burgers are.
Soy milk is not wrecking the planet.
Industrial dairy is.
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about clarity.
🌍 The Bigger Picture
If you're already trying to eat more sustainably, this is good news.
You don’t have to avoid soy. In fact, choosing soy products instead of meat or dairy can significantly reduce your environmental footprint.
Because when we consume soy directly, we cut out the middle animal, and with it, all the extra land, feed, water, and emissions.
🌱 If this post helped clear up a common misconception, please share it.
The more we expose the hidden realities of our food system, the more people can make informed, sustainable, and ethical choices.
Follow me to understand why people are going plant-based, in a non-judgmental and supportive way.