Crops for people not for animals
WELL, that is a first – Viva! agrees with Farming Editor
Chris Rundle. Something does need to be done about Britain’s
food security and what the Government plans to do about it. But
that’s all we agree on.
Chris Rundle rightly points out the stormy waters ahead: a
growing population and no more land to feed them. However, what
he fails to make clear is that his constant promotion of animal
agriculture will only make things worse.
As it is, even with 70 per cent of our current arable land
being used to grow crops for animals, it is not enough. We
import huge amounts of animal feed from abroad – often from
countries that have trouble feeding themselves.
Europe imports 18 million tons of soya every year from cleared
land in the Amazon; almost all of it used to feed animals. So
every chicken nugget, burger, bacon rasher or turkey twizzler
can claim a direct hand in rainforest destruction.
Increasing animal agriculture in the UK would make us less
self- sufficient, not more. The solution is to move
towards a system where we grow crops to feed people and not
animals.
If all of Britain went vegetarian, we’d need half the land used
now to feed us. If we all went vegan, we’d need less than a
quarter.
Justin Kerswell
Viva!
Bristol
6 Comments
by Colin McNamee, Baltonsborough
Wednesday, July 30 2008, 8:25AM
“Presumably Viva! is another planet where Justin lives, and from the content of his letter it is a vegetarian one.”
by Shaun Freke, Gloucester
Monday, July 28 2008, 3:10PM
“Umm all chicken nugget, burger, bacon rasher and turkey twizzler, Justin, you're making me hungry! Seriously, that alright for those of you who like Justin are vegetarian or vegan but how about the other 96% of the population that enjoy a bit of animal flesh once in a while? Further more I understand that plants scream as they are pulled out of the ground and are then needlessly hacked to pieces. Who's out there crying out for all of those plants? Not Viva they want us to eat them all up - nasty people.”
by bm, swindon
Monday, July 28 2008, 2:05PM
“Why would you need to go vegetarian? They drink milk and eat dairy produce, therefore a calf is born every year and what of the cows when they are removed from the herds? Viva should be encouraging people to eat less meat rather than just waste it.”
by KB, Bristol, England
Monday, July 28 2008, 12:44PM
“Justin, what about those who find it very difficult to digest vegetable matter?
I enjoy meat, but more importantly, it gives me the nutrients that I need. Please don't inflict your lifestyle choice on me”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Monday, July 28 2008, 10:21AM
“The catalyst is molybdenum oxide, an already popular catalyst used to produce additives and chemicals like acrylonitrile. This advance is important because methane is relatively clean burning, but because it is a gas at room temperature, not a viable fuel. The catalyst will allow methane to be transferred from a gaseous to usable state. .
"Methane More than Hot Air; Now Also Liquid Fuel." . Courtesy 'Matter Network'.”
by Charles Henry, Somerset
Monday, July 28 2008, 10:07AM
“Justin Kerswell was obviously not taught any modern history at school and appears to know nothing of the wartime blockades when this country had to become completely self-sufficient in food. . At that time much unsuitable land had to be put under the plough. . But to my knowledge they didn't find any way of cultivating all the rough terrain of all the Hill Farms.
80% of methane generation is ¿anthropogenic¿, that is due to humans. . I think I know precisely where I would like to begin the management program reducing it. . .Ho Ho! . However; researchers in China have developed a catalyst that can turn methane into benzene. Though benzene is a highly toxic carcinogen, it is also an expensive middle-man chemical used to produce a range of other products. . Full story at 'Science Daily'.”