Real Article: The Hidden Footprint of Your Food
You sit down to eat — a simple meal of rice and beef. But what you don’t see is the carbon footprint behind it.
Modern agriculture is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, global food production accounts for more than 25% of total emissions. The sources? Methane from livestock, nitrous oxide from fertilisers, and CO₂ from deforestation to create farmland.
Beef and dairy are especially high-impact. Cows release methane as they digest food, and require large amounts of land and water. Meanwhile, growing crops with chemical fertilisers releases nitrous oxide, a gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Consumers rarely realise how their diet affects the environment. But if we want to slow climate change, we must reconsider not just how we live — but what we eat.
The next time you choose between tofu and steak, remember: your fork is a climate weapon.
Vocabulary Deep Dive
| Word | Synonym | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Emissions | Pollution | “Emissions” refers specifically to released gases like CO₂, CH₄ |
| Nitrous oxide | Greenhouse gas | More potent than CO₂; mainly from fertilisers |
| Carbon footprint | Environmental impact | Measurable total of CO₂ (and equivalents) caused by activity |
| Deforestation | Tree removal | “Deforestation” implies large-scale land clearing, often linked to agriculture |
There — now you can say “Meat has a higher carbon footprint due to methane and deforestation” like a Band 8 speaker.
Article 2: Can We Farm Without Emissions?
The future of farming may depend on how well we reduce its impact.
Some solutions are emerging: precision agriculture, plant-based diets, regenerative farming, and methane-reducing cattle feed. These could reduce emissions while still feeding a growing population. But change is slow — and industrial agriculture is deeply tied to politics, profit, and culture.
Governments face a difficult balance: protecting farmers while pushing for carbon footprint reduction. Some offer incentives for low-emission techniques. Others promote tree planting to offset deforestation.
Still, without global coordination, agriculture could become the climate crisis we ignore until it’s too late.
IELTS Reading Test
- What are two agricultural sources of emissions mentioned in Article 1?
→ Methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilisers - Complete the sentence:
“Food production causes over ______ of global emissions.”
→ 25% - True / False / Not Given:
Tofu has a higher carbon footprint than beef.
→ False - Multiple Choice:
What is one proposed solution to reduce farming emissions?
A. Increase food exports
B. Change cattle feed
C. Use more fertiliser
D. Expand meat production
→ B. Change cattle feed - Matching Headings:
- A. Political Challenges
- B. Farming’s Environmental Toll
- C. Tech-Based Solutions
- D. Consumer Role
- E. Economic Shifts
Suggested Answers: B, D, C, A, E
IELTS Speaking Challenge
Focus Vocabulary: emissions | carbon footprint | nitrous oxide | deforestation
Warm-Up:
- How important is agriculture in your country?
- Do you think farming can be environmentally friendly?
- Have you ever thought about how food impacts climate change?
Band 6 Sample:
“Farming is important but makes pollution. We need to fix it. I don’t know how.”
Band 7 Sample:
“While agriculture is vital for national economies, it also contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing carbon footprints through better farming practices is essential, especially in areas affected by deforestation and fertiliser overuse.”
Speaking Frame:
“In my country, ______ is a major part of the economy. However, its impact on emissions — especially from ______ and ______ — shows the urgent need for sustainable reforms.”
There — now your answers are both informed and academic.
IELTS Writing Challenge
Prompt:
Some people believe agriculture must reduce its emissions to fight climate change. Others think feeding the world is more important than cutting emissions.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 7 Sample:
“Agriculture contributes heavily to global emissions through livestock methane, fertilisers, and deforestation. However, food security remains a global priority. In my view, both goals can be achieved through innovation and incentives that reduce the carbon footprint of farming without risking food supplies.”
Structure Guide:
- Introduce the agriculture–emissions debate
- View 1: Climate-first — emissions reduction is essential
- View 2: Feeding populations is the priority
- Your view: Solutions must balance food security and environmental responsibility
Use These Words: emissions, deforestation, nitrous oxide, carbon footprint
There — now you’re writing like a university student with a global perspective.
Grammar Focus: “Comparative Structures” with Environmental Impact
Used to express intensity, scale, or importance
Examples:
- “Beef production causes more emissions than plant-based alternatives.”
- “The larger the carbon footprint, the greater the environmental damage.”
- “Deforestation is more severe in areas with commercial agriculture.”
Practice:
- Rewrite: Meat has high impact. Plants are better.
→ Plant-based diets have a lower carbon footprint than meat-based diets. - Write your own using:
- more… than
- less… than
- the more… the more…
- the higher… the greater…
This grammar is essential for Task 2 comparison questions and real-world data analysis.
Rewrite Challenge
Question:
Should agriculture be reformed to reduce emissions?
Sentence Guide:
- Agriculture is a major source of emissions, especially from livestock and fertilisers.
- Many farms contribute to deforestation and waste.
- However, farming is essential for food security and livelihoods.
- In my opinion, governments must encourage low-emission farming while protecting productivity.
Keywords: emissions, deforestation, carbon footprint, nitrous oxide
There — you’ve built a precise, persuasive, and structured argument using IELTS-ready vocabulary.
Final Reflection
✔️ You’ve just:
- Mastered 4 advanced environmental terms
- Read two tightly written, topic-specific articles
- Answered IELTS-style reading questions with logic
- Practised high-band speaking and writing with full frameworks
- Used comparatives to upgrade your grammar clarity
- Rewritten a full response with logic and layered thinking
To learn how to use skills like structured rebuttal — powerful for essays, presentations, and negotiations — join the full course.