Red Meat

By Don Kerr from an article in Le Monde Diplomatique  April 2013

For several decades, the food industry has persisted with an approach that has damaged small farmers, biodiversity, soil and water resources without managing to feed the planet – in 2011, a billion people did not have enough to eat. The meat industry exemplifies the problem. It accounts for 2% of global GDP but produces 18% of greenhouse gas emissions and uses huge amounts of natural resources, land and agricultural produce. Should cereals be grown to feed people or to fatten livestock? It takes at least seven kg of grain to produce 1 kg of beef, four to produce 1 kg of pork and two for 1 kg of chicken.