Final answer:
The most likely scenario if animal products were no longer produced would be that half of all agricultural land would be repurposed, potentially for environmental benefits like reforestation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
If animal products were no longer produced, the most likely outcome would be a. half of all agricultural land would be freed for other uses. This is because a significant portion of agricultural land is used to grow feed for animals rather than food crops directly consumed by humans. With the cessation of animal farming, this land could be repurposed for growing human food, reforestation, conservation, or other ecological uses. This shift would also likely lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, mitigating the pace of climate change rather than intensifying it.
Currently, livestock farming plays a substantial role in deforestation and the production of greenhouse gases. Livestock farming accounts for around 40-63% of all deforestation. The elimination of animal farming would, in turn, curb the associated soil erosion, loss of habitats, and greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting the environment. However, it is essential to note that while this would represent a positive change for the environment, it is overly simplistic to suggest that intensive agriculture would be completely safe for the environment or that such a change would lead to the US running out of food supplies or drastically intensify global warming.