The agriculture sector has spent millions of dollars on discrediting plant-based diets, a new report has claimed. The report, published by the consumer advocacy organisation Freedom Food Alliance on Thursday (29 February), found that multinational meat companies and lobby groups were using industry-funded research, public ad campaigns and educational materials to sway public opinion on […]
It’s specifically the beef industry, which is simultaneously a huge source of methane emissions, a huge land user for cattle ranching, worse for human health, and, coincidentally, a significant US agricultural output.
While beef is a big aspect of the overall agricultural industry, cattle feed requires roughly 3/4 of all US grown crops. Meaning with less beef consumption, the total US agricultural output would increase. But veggies aren’t subsidized to the same extent as beef and corporations value profit over everything.
But we do need meat to survive. There are a number of nutrients we cannot get from plants. Including among them B12. Maybe fish then?
Well let’s fact check this:
https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2019/study-clarifies-us-beefs-resource-use-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions/
“The seven regions’ combined beef cattle production accounted for 3.3 percent of all U.S. GHG emissions (By comparison, transportation and electricity generation together made up 56 percent of the total in 2016 and agriculture in general 9 percent)”
3.3% of total USA emissions? In what planet is less 3.3% huge? I would say that we need food over lots of others industries. Also, apparently if you feed cattle seaweed, it reduces emissions. At about 1/4 I have read between 1/5 to 1/3. Look it up, this article says 80%+ which seems too high.
https://phys.org/news/2021-03-seaweed-supplements-livestock-methane-emissions.html
Anyway, what about rich people, Bill Gates, Bezos, movie stars and politicians using private jets everywhere on a whim? How come that never really gets touched on or heaviy pushed in the news media? Which clearly use at least about the same or more per capita. What about something as wasteful as the cruise ship industry?
How bad are cruise ships for the environment?
https://theweek.com/environmental-news/1024392/how-the-cruise-industry-is-pivoting-to-sustainability
Traditional diesel-powered cruise ships pump out massive quantities of toxic emissions, experts say. While the entire shipping industry emits “2.9% of globalcarbon dioxide emissions,” cruise ships “produce more carbon dioxide annually on average than any other kind of ship due to their air conditioning, heated pools and other hotel amenities,” The Associated Press reported, citing a study from the European Federation for Transport and Environment.
It seems weird that people do not focus on this but on an actual food source. We do not need cruise ships and crazy private jets as mich as we need food. Not to say that Big corps are not assholes, big pharma, big oil, big sugar, all are, among others.