A new UK study published in Royal Society Open Science found that switching entirely to organic free-range egg production could increase greenhouse gas emissions by 60% and nearly double land use . Researchers say the findings reveal an unexpected trade-off between animal welfare and environmental sustainability rather than identifying a single "best" way to produce eggs.
Global egg production has quadrupled over the past 50 years, becoming a major contributor to the environmental footprint of modern agriculture. Today, the global food supply chain accounts for 26% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions , 78% of aquatic eutrophication , and 32% of soil acidification .
