Robert Sturdy

While I have never been the biggest fan of The Beatles, (I always preferred The Rolling Stones) I have a huge amount of respect for Sir Paul McCartney the musical genius. And after hearing his speech in the European Parliament, I think he should stick to writing songs.  Sir Paul’s address was massively over simplified and extraordinarily disobliging to EU farmers.  At a sweep, Sir Paul reduced all world livestock farming to a single category, refusing to take into account the variations found across the world.

We have to maintain perspective.  In the UK our livestock production systems are already highly sustainable and are essential for our future food security. This applies not just to the UK, but to the entire EU.   Furthermore, agricultural production is responsible for just seven per cent of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, and methane emissions from the sector have fallen by 17 per cent since 1990. In total, agriculture accounts for around one per cent of the UK’s total CO2 emissions. This is hardly the massively polluting industry that Sir Paul described in his speech.

At a time when livestock farmers are already struggling to make ends meet working eight days a week, encouraging people to eat less meat, regardless of its provenance, is not very helpful. It is clear that Sir Paul does not understand livestock production.   Much of our agricultural land in the UK is unsuitable for arable and vegetable crops and farmers play a key role in maintaining the beauty of much of our countryside. If we were to put farmers out of business by not buying their produce then this invaluable asset would be lost forever.

The European farming industry has already made huge progress in reducing its impact on the environment.  The car industry is lauded for its more efficient and environmentally friendly machines, so why should food producers not be treated in a similar fashion?  Focusing on a single issue as a way of saving the planet is irresponsible and will be counterproductive in the long run. What we should be doing is investing in agricultural research and development to develop green technologies which will enable farmers to grow ecologically sustainable food.  A recent report by the English Beef and Lamb Executive clearly demonstrates the steps the industry is taking to make sure they pull their weight.

By looking at the current emissions challenge facing the sector, and what can and will be done to further reduce its impact, the report sets out a clear and precise vision of reform.  Simplistic solutions like cutting livestock numbers, while making for a good sound bite, fail to identify the complicated challenges the food system faces, nor the strategies and practical measures that the industry is developing.
Put simply, eating less meat will not mean less climate change.