far fewer plants would be killed if everyone was vegan.

I doubt this

How so? Have you seen the energy pyramid diagram?

The one I am referring to is specifically figure 2

much of what animals eat are parts of plants people can’t or won’t eat. I don’t actually believe any fewer plants would be harmed if people were vegan.
Because instead of having to feed one creature, you have two creatures to feed. Still not clear?
if I grow a plant like corn, and I eat the kernels, and feed the cobs, stalk and ruffage to a cow, only one plant is harmed.

While this likely pans out with historical methods of meat production, alongside historical quantities of meat consumption, it breaks down when scaled up.

This would signal towards a reduced meat consumption across a population. On an individual level, removing meat from the diet would be beneficial to offset those who aren’t reducing.

On an individual level, removing meat from the diet would be beneficial to offset those who aren’t reducing.

maybe it would be if the industry changed it’s production based on consumption. I don’t think that happens though

They aren’t producing for funsies. If people are buying less, they’re going to produce less in order to maximize their profit. If they don’t ramp down production in response to reduced consumption, they are losing money.

If people are buying less, they’re going to produce less

that has never happened and there is no reason to believe it would

Lots of businesses have scaled down production when demand for their product has declined. Lines literally get discontinued if demand drops low enough.
oh. I thought the discussion was about meat
Meat production

Expressed in tonnes. Includes cattle, poultry, sheep/mutton, goat, pigmeat, and wild game.

Our World in Data

Yes, because demand is increasing.

If demand were decreasing, then the chart would look different.

there is no way to prove or disprove this claim. it’s pure storytelling.
So companies are going to continue to produce a product that people aren’t buying? That would be a rather weird thing to do.
no iPhones were bought in 2005
That’s ok, totally understandable. Just read the comment again
still not convinced