With increasing consumption of poultry in the diet of Indians, environmentalists and other bodies concerned about the environment have raised questions about the carbon footprint of the largest source of animal protein consumed in India. As demand increases due to urbanization and changing eating habits, the environmental impact of chicken farming is once again being talked about.

According to statistics from Veganuary India, there has been a rapid growth of the poultry industry in India over the past 10 years. It has been found from research that factory farming of poultry consumes high amounts of water, production of feed grain, produces huge amounts of waste and emissions of greenhouse gases. Environmental studies have further shown the impact of the poultry industry on agriculture.

The organisation states that such matters have become increasingly relevant due to India's growing number of heat waves and unpredictable climate affecting agriculture in general. Hence, food sustainability is becoming an increasingly significant topic of discussion.

"Many people do not realise that their daily food choices are directly connected to climate change," said Prashanth Vishwanath, Country Head, Veganuary India. "Chicken may appear relatively benign compared to other meats, but when consumed at the scale we see today, its environmental footprint becomes significant. Sustainable eating is no longer just a personal health decision; it is a planetary responsibility."

Nutrition and health professionals state that when done correctly, the vegetarian approach to nutrition is able to provide the body with sufficient number of proteins and other necessary vitamins and minerals without harming the environment. According to the press release, in the Oxford University study where various types of diets were compared in terms of carbon dioxide emissions, the vegetarian approach showed the best results.

The organisation further indicated that raising awareness about sustainability has been one of the reasons for an increasing number of people making plant-based food selections. However, it is equally important to maintain nutrition when changing diets.