Out With The Meat, In With The Bugs

The first comprehensive strategy to align the worldwide agrifood business with the Paris Climate Agreement will include a directive for the most advanced nations to reduce their excessive consumption of meat. Out with the meat, in with the bugs is rapidly brewing.

The United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization is anticipated to release the worldwide food systems’ strategy for achieving a 1.5C temperature increase during the upcoming COP28 session.

The FAO will recommend that nations with excessive meat consumption should reduce their intake, while emerging countries, where insufficient meat consumption contributes to a widespread nutrition problem, will need to enhance their animal production practices.

Food systems provide approximately one-third of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, with a significant portion of this impact attributed to livestock farming. Livestock production is a significant contributor to methane emissions, deforestation, and the loss of biodiversity.

Moreover, the establishment wants you to believe CO2 is deleterious to our health which is not true at all. CO2 makes life thrive in this realm. Above, take a gander at the pie chart about the meat and the bugs.

I almost forgot bugs have an enzyme called Chitin that we humans cannot break down. It can inflict a myriad of health issues on the body.

While not legally enforceable, the FAO’s plan is anticipated to influence policy and investment choices and accelerate the food industry’s efforts to address climate change, an area where it has fallen behind other sectors in making pledges.

The purpose of the guidance on meat is to effectively communicate a distinct message to governments. However, governments in wealthier countries generally avoid implementing measures that seek to influence consumer behavior, particularly when it comes to reducing the use of ordinary goods.

“Livestock is a politically delicate matter, but, it is necessary to address sensitive topics to resolve the issue,” stated Dhanush Dinesh, the creator of Clim-Eat, an organization dedicated to expediting climate action in food systems.

“Failure to address the issue of cattle will prevent us from effectively resolving climate change.” The primary issue is overuse.

According to figures from the FAO, the average American consumes approximately 127 kilos of meat per year, whereas in Nigeria the average is 7 kilograms and in the Democratic Republic of Congo it is only 3 kilograms.

The Eat-Lancet Commission advises individuals to limit their annual meat consumption to a maximum of 15.7 kilograms.

The United Nations organization headquartered in Rome, which is responsible for enhancing the agricultural sector and addressing nutrition, aims to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between the climate transition and guaranteeing food security for the expanding worldwide population.

In addition to advocating for reduced meat consumption among well-nourished populations worldwide, the proposal also aims to incentivize farmers in developing nations to enhance the productivity of their animals and adopt more sustainable practices.

The FAO states that other suggestions will address topics such as farmers’ response to unpredictable weather patterns, as well as addressing significant contributors to emissions, including food waste, post-harvest loss, and fertilizer usage.

The strategy will be implemented in a phased manner over the coming years, with the ultimate goal of incorporating country-specific recommendations.

According to the FAIRR Initiative, an investor network that focuses on intensive animal production, the road map can provide a “shared direction of travel” for livestock companies and their investors, similar to the role played by the International Energy Agency’s net zero documents in the energy sector.

“The road map is essential for providing clear guidance to both enterprises and investors, enabling them to effectively prepare for the transition,” stated Sofía Condés, the head of investor outreach at FAIRR. “The longer firms delay taking action, the more severe and potentially disruptive the change will be.”

The FAO’s efforts are among several food-centric declarations and commitments anticipated to emerge from the COP28 conference in Dubai.

According to Dinesh from Clim-Eat, although climate summits have traditionally avoided discussing agrifood issues to avoid concerns about food security, this year’s organizers are making an effort to promote several initiatives that are apart from the official discussions.

Out with the bugs, and in with the meat I say. Lab-grown food can ruin your day.