The Hidden Mining Cost of Meat and Seafood

Most life-cycle assessments of meat, dairy and fish leave out the minerals added to feed.

By: Emily Payne

Outlets: Sentient

Published: October 28, 2026

Words: 1,171

Last Updated: 1 week, 5 days ago

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The crops we feed farm animals like soy and corn are a big part of the meat industry’s massive environmental footprint. Producing these crops accounts for more than two-thirds of agricultural land use, fertilizer-driven pollution and a large share of related greenhouse gas emissions. But another, often-overlooked part of animal feed hides farther up the supply chain — in the mines that supply minerals to boost farm animal diets.

When we factor in the environmental …

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