Firstly, the main problems with meat production - water consumption, pollution, consumption of grain - are a result of our modern production methods, including feedlots. If livestock are raised on pasture as part of a SYSTEM for improving soil fertility, there is no pollution. I was irritated by the assumption that problems with raising livestock are inevitable and we should just reduce our consumption, rather than change the process. As pointed out by one of the other guests on the program, most of the land used for livestock is actually unsuitable for growing crops for human consumption, so you won't feed the world by making that land available. Finally, I don't know how these people think that vegetables are grown, but unless they are organic, there's an awful lot of chemicals used, such as fertilisers and pesticides. Even if they vegetables are organic, they need soil fertility from organic sources, such as manure...which comes from livestock. See what I mean about the system? I believe that there's no reason why we can't all enjoy organic produce if farmers change from "modern" systems of chemicals and confinement to farms which work as systems with more than one type of animal and crop designed to minimise inputs and maximise efficiency.
Yet another guest made the good point that we would be better to have a junk food free Friday, both for our environment (reduce packaging) and for our own health! I would totally support that idea, although I'm aiming for a junk food free life, not just Fridays!
9 comments:
Good points! But... it will be impossible to supply the ever-increasing number of people who want to eat a Western meat-heavy diet with sustainably produced meat. Therefore I think the answer is (1) improving the way we produce all meat, and, (2) reducing our consumption to a level that is in balance with the amount that can be sustainably produced.
For me personally, this means that I purchase free-range meat (local/organic where possible) and have reduced my meat intake to 3-4 times per week (which compensates for the increased price).
And I'm aiming for a junk free life too! :)
Perhaps both could be used. Many eat far too much meat. It's their dietary cornerstone. So if they are going to continue to eat it then lets bring in more sustainable versions of raising it. Although the efficiency will go remarkably down as you bring production back to natural processes.
Any parcel of land could be terraformed into fertile agriculture after several years of cultivation. After all, that is what every urban gardener has done. They have converted their detriments such as heavy clay or super sandy soils devoid of minerals etc into microbial abundant earth through compost etc.
Manures are kind of a different approach. They aren't entirely needed to bring fertility to land as you can easily do the same with green manure cover crops. Composting etc. What would take place in nature over time that we have the ability to speed up. However, because we opt to raise meat the by product of manure is there and should be put to some use. Albeit even that needs to be compost to be useable. :)
From what I have learned along the way is a bit of the pollution of meat production stems from use feeding them grains which they cannot adequately process so in turn becomes methane i.e. cow farts. Also the improper disposal of their waste that creates these horrible runoffs bringing salmonella to the spinach patch. Of course then the plants get blamed.
:) Basically put, if we are going to keep eating it, then we should do a better job at the production of it! Which I hear in your written words that you agree with.
It is all about balance isn't it? There always seem to be wild swings one way or another. Just like I try to eat a wide variety of colorful vegetables and fruit, I think we need to feed our gardens with a wide variety of composts, manures etc. Where we went wrong was huge fields of one type of crop, or massive feedlots. I love what you are doing in your little corner of the wold.
Thanks for the thoughtful comments all. I was a bit worried about the response to this one, but it sounds like I wasn't being too radical!
I hear you Liz. For me it is all about the lack of understanding about the system, people are just so out of touch with where their food comes from and therefore don't care.
Hear! Hear! Liz. Well said. I think very similar thoughts to you on this.
When I first started reading this post I thought they were promoting a meat free Friday because of religious beliefs but it became more clear the more I read.
I agree totally!
I agree with everything you say! I wish I knew how to make people think differently. Food produced thoughfully gives so much more enjoyment than food slapped on a plate without any understanding of the production of it. So many are so ignorant! Let's have a no shopping Friday! That would make a massive environmental difference!
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone.
Post a Comment