Climate change is on all our minds and what we should be eating is high on the agenda.
I have been attempting to collect good evidence of the pros and cons of both a meat and plant based diet and failed miserably (to date). Many of the reports are contradictory and there seems to be evidence that argues the case for either: a fully plant based diet, or, an omnivorous diet; where one cuts down on the amount of meat one eats.
Coming clean, my diet is omnivorous. I tend not to “label” my meals as meat, veggie or vegan, they are just meals to me. On average I probably eat meat around 3 or 4 times a week in the 21 meals I eat (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and currently feel comfortable with this.
Ordinarily, when writing an article I like to back it up with evidence – on this occasion I am choosing not to as I can not find any conclusive facts that I feel are completely unbiased. I have however decided to write a summary of what I believe / think we should aim for – IĀ am happy to be proved wrong ….
- Waste less food.
- Purchase food locally and in season.
- Ensure food purchased has travelled as little as possible.
- Eat an omnivorous, vegetarian of vegan diet (the choice is up to the individual)
- If we do choose to eat meat it should be raised by grazing and not fed with specifically grown feed (inevitably this will put the cost of meat up enormously, so perhaps there should be some form of subsidy or concession to those less well off).
From my readings, it seems that animals that graze may emit as much greenhouse gases as those that don’t, but the fact that feed is not being grown for them specifically lowers their carbon footprint.
Grazing helps regenerate the soil which means the soil emits less green house gas and is more able to support crops for human consumption.
Rice production has a huge carbon footprint, yet we are not suggesting that rice cultivation is suspended!
The discussion will no doubt continue, all I ask is that our media does some proper investigative journalism into this huge issue and reports facts which are unbiased.