* food production and the V-word
by Andrew Senter
December 2008
The philosophical and intellectual case for veganism centres on health, animal welfare and environmental needs, in particular the effects of climate change. Of course, it stands as part of a much wider debate on land use, food security and social justice, for example. This article looks at veganism and what it has to offer the debate on the ethics of food production and consumption in the UK. It will be argued that veganism can take its place alongside other factors in the food debate. Indeed, veganism, the need for local produce and organic production methods can perhaps come together in the future to address the greatest challenge of climate change.
It has been noted that no culture in the past has embraced a vegan diet. Yet it is also the case that no socio-economic system has attempted to cater for an increasingly urbanised global population predicted to reach 8.3 billion by 2030. Increases in meat and dairy products will inevitably flow from this fact, but at the same time this will lead to greater inequality and arguably greater ill-health. It is worth considering whether the UK should be contributing to this. This is especially true since the UK uses other people’s land to reduce our carbon emissions relating to food production.
The case for more efficient agriculture in the UK with the use of vegan methods is considered in Simon Fairlie’s recent update of Kenneth Mellenby’s book Can Britain feed itself? (1975). Fairlie’s work posits several scenarios, covering vegan, organic, and meat and dairy options. He concludes that an organic livestock-based system has the greatest difficulty sustaining the population. The statistics highlight substantial waste under this scenario, such as the amount of grain fed directly to animals as opposed to humans. The vegan organic option is possible, and could even operate alongside other models. In fact it would create unexpected opportunities, such as how to use land taken out of production. The down side would be reduced agricultural employment and the potential for a monoculture of energy crops on otherwise unused land.
Many argue that self-sufficiency is not desirable, with or without veganism, given the huge potential benefits to the developing world of increased food production. In fact, Britain’s self-sufficiency ratio has been in decline since the 1990s. The issue has come to the fore in recent times with fears of the destabilising effect of climate change. This is where a vegan diet could have considerable influence on food policy. As Garnett of the Centre for Environmental Strategy notes, ‘... given the high greenhouse gas burdens of dairy production, a vegetarian diet does not necessarily carry a lower greenhouse gas burden although a vegan diet may ...’ This possibility is almost never mentioned though it is generally accepted that reduced meat and dairy consumption in the UK would have inherent widespread benefits. For example, for the general health of the population, in the reduced use of water, and the more efficient use of land. Indeed, it seems likely that requirements to reduce carbon emissions will impose a diet lower in meat and dairy products in any case. Increased self-sufficiency, especially in areas such as growing more of our own fruit, would mean enormous changes in production and consumer attitudes on issues such as seasonality and price. Any moves towards vegetarianism and veganism would entail even greater cultural shifts, not least because most of the food debate centres only on issues such as the benefits of organic or local produce. The debate is a complex one that appears often to have little to do with food itself. Developing a food culture that accommodates the ‘v’ words is paramount.
December 2008
The philosophical and intellectual case for veganism centres on health, animal welfare and environmental needs, in particular the effects of climate change. Of course, it stands as part of a much wider debate on land use, food security and social justice, for example. This article looks at veganism and what it has to offer the debate on the ethics of food production and consumption in the UK. It will be argued that veganism can take its place alongside other factors in the food debate. Indeed, veganism, the need for local produce and organic production methods can perhaps come together in the future to address the greatest challenge of climate change.
It has been noted that no culture in the past has embraced a vegan diet. Yet it is also the case that no socio-economic system has attempted to cater for an increasingly urbanised global population predicted to reach 8.3 billion by 2030. Increases in meat and dairy products will inevitably flow from this fact, but at the same time this will lead to greater inequality and arguably greater ill-health. It is worth considering whether the UK should be contributing to this. This is especially true since the UK uses other people’s land to reduce our carbon emissions relating to food production.
The case for more efficient agriculture in the UK with the use of vegan methods is considered in Simon Fairlie’s recent update of Kenneth Mellenby’s book Can Britain feed itself? (1975). Fairlie’s work posits several scenarios, covering vegan, organic, and meat and dairy options. He concludes that an organic livestock-based system has the greatest difficulty sustaining the population. The statistics highlight substantial waste under this scenario, such as the amount of grain fed directly to animals as opposed to humans. The vegan organic option is possible, and could even operate alongside other models. In fact it would create unexpected opportunities, such as how to use land taken out of production. The down side would be reduced agricultural employment and the potential for a monoculture of energy crops on otherwise unused land.
Many argue that self-sufficiency is not desirable, with or without veganism, given the huge potential benefits to the developing world of increased food production. In fact, Britain’s self-sufficiency ratio has been in decline since the 1990s. The issue has come to the fore in recent times with fears of the destabilising effect of climate change. This is where a vegan diet could have considerable influence on food policy. As Garnett of the Centre for Environmental Strategy notes, ‘... given the high greenhouse gas burdens of dairy production, a vegetarian diet does not necessarily carry a lower greenhouse gas burden although a vegan diet may ...’ This possibility is almost never mentioned though it is generally accepted that reduced meat and dairy consumption in the UK would have inherent widespread benefits. For example, for the general health of the population, in the reduced use of water, and the more efficient use of land. Indeed, it seems likely that requirements to reduce carbon emissions will impose a diet lower in meat and dairy products in any case. Increased self-sufficiency, especially in areas such as growing more of our own fruit, would mean enormous changes in production and consumer attitudes on issues such as seasonality and price. Any moves towards vegetarianism and veganism would entail even greater cultural shifts, not least because most of the food debate centres only on issues such as the benefits of organic or local produce. The debate is a complex one that appears often to have little to do with food itself. Developing a food culture that accommodates the ‘v’ words is paramount.