The Vegetarian Debate: A Rebuttal for Rump Steak

Earlier this year, I wrote on my experience as a vegan and the health consequences associated. Despite the facts regarding our health, many readers expressed their distress over sustainability and the welfare of animals.

I’ve held back on whether or not I should write this. It’s a hot topic and we have many wonderful members who live a meat-free lifestyle. However, I need to open this conversation, as I believe an informed decision is ultimately the best decision, and many of you have potentially made an uninformed decision regarding plant-based diets.

Let’s start with the environment issue. Our eco-system is reliant on the beautiful synergy of all living things. Grazing animals are good for our soil. Their ability to break down grass, and turn it into manure provides critical bacteria for the ecosystem that lives deep within the earth. This enriched soil then feeds the plants, which ultimately ends up as a food source for these grazing animals, and the cycle continues.

Many would argue that farming these animals is unsustainable, and that a plant-based diet means a smaller footprint. Recent research suggests otherwise.

Land space for crops is larger than that of animals and certain land surfaces are terrible for crop production. This raises the issue of food shortages in regions that can’t supply crops for mass production, and if that were to be the case, it’d increase the need for foreign transport, something that’s a contributing factor to environmental destruction.

Red meat production requires water usage almost on par with avocado, wheat and soy farming.

The biggest contributor to the environment is landfill (40%) not agriculture.

How many of you, including plant based eaters, purchase fruits and vegetables from supermarkets? If so, the loss of the food source, which simply is not appeasing to the eye, is insane. In fact, it’s the largest contributor to environmental destruction. Perhaps we should move more to bin diving and less to niche dieting plans…

Don’t get me wrong, I take a stand against anti-biotic, grain, feed-lot fed animals. Eating sustainably can be achieved with animal protein in your diet. Kangaroo, camel, rabbits and turkey wreck havoc on our lands with their over population. These animals would be a good place to start.

Making conscious and informed decisions when buying food is critical if environment and sustainability is your thing. Your soy latte may not land on that list. Sourcing local farmers and voting with your wallet will go a long way toward not only a better planet, but also a better you.

What about the welfare of animals? I struggle with this too, but we must educate ourselves on the silent deaths, the residual effects of crop farming. Native birds are routinely found dead in the surroundings of farms due to excessive pesticide use, and thousands of mice, rats and insects are killed by the accommodation of more crop production. Not to mention nearby human communities, who suffer terrible birth defects due to the disgusting amount of Roundup found in waterways.

‘A meat-free diet does not mean a bloodless diet.’ Robb Wolf

It’s undeniable that by simply eating a plant-based diet you’re, in some way, preventing death. I’d argue that organic, grass-fed cattle farming produces less death among native animals than large scale oats, corn or soy farms. For every piece of tofu, you’re contributing to the death of something, as this is the way of life. The argument surrounding ‘killing’ is flawed, whether intent is present or not.

If we choose to not kill for food, should the foxes who kill our sheep be held accountable? Or the lion who hunts his prey on a group of zebras, should he be stopped? We’re human, and we require meat for optimal health. Nature intended this for us, and our place in the cycle is obvious. It’s a somewhat silly notion to suggest that life comes without death.

Say we were to stop eating meat, what then would happen with the over population of certain species? Would this not impact our current environment? Surely too many cattle would lead to excessive green house gas emissions, or simply become destructive to grass lands and soil. Many people, most importantly farmers, would be displaced of work, creating a social economic disaster. And I’ve already discussed how crop farming is not suitable for all countries and environments.

Many of us depend on the income generated by farming, and we have already seen the collapse of people’s livelihood in the horrendous Indian Suicides, which came at the hands of large corporations trying to control our farming practice. I love that people have the freedom to make decisions for their health, hell, I would be disappointed if I was forced to do something that wasn’t in line with my beliefs.

I guess the reason behind this article is to offer substance and factual information regarding the sustainable and environmental debate over dietary choices. We all have a place to improve our surroundings and better our future.

I vote with my wallet and now perhaps you will too.

To better health,
Holly