'Save the world - eat less meat'

Wed Nov 11 2009 00:17:50

The world needs to consume less meat if it is ensure everyone has enough to eat, a new report has claimed.

A world population set to hit 9 billion and increasing meat consumption is putting pressure on natural resources and contributing to the greenhouse gases which cause climate change.

A report by Friends of the Earth and Compassion in World Farming found it is possible to use environmental and animal-friendly practices to feed the world by cutting down, but not cutting out, meat from our diets.

Eating meat three times a week could be sustained without deforestation, which destroys wildlife and accounts for almost a fifth of the world's carbon emissions, as well as allowing free range farming and even widespread organic agriculture, the study said.

Such a diet would require people in rich countries to cut their meat intake, but those in poorer nations would see an increase in consumption of animal proteins.

Redistributing meat consumption would help tackle health problems such as obesity, heart disease and some cancers, the Eating the Planet report added.

Clare Oxborrow, senior food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "It's amazing news that we can feed a rapidly expanding population without trashing the planet - and still eat meat several times a week.

"With as many obese as malnourished people in the world, fairer and healthier lower-meat diets are a win-win for people and the planet."

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "There are lots of ways people can cut their carbon footprint and impact on the environment - and reducing the amount of meat in our diets is one option."

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