New report: Reducing meat and dairy consumption is essential for climate health
November 14, 2024
The UK food industry has implemented a series of initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint by 129.5 million tonnes. Reducing meat and dairy consumption is a key tool. The UK's Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has published its most recent report..
FoodNavigator's free Protein Vision event is a great opportunity to join the conversation about plant-based foods.
The report makes a number of recommendations for governments and food producers to implement in the coming years. These include helping farmers achieve net-zero emissions, increasing industry involvement, and significant investment.
A recommendation to change the diet of UK plant-based and farm-based meat producers has sparked a row between two bodies.
Without dietary change, the food industry will not be able to contribute. [to carbon reductions] The report states that "the SBTi FLAG target would not be met"
What is the minimum amount of meat we can reduce to save our planet?
The report adds that a reduction of 20 % can be achieved by focusing on the production of red meat and milk, as well as improving control of food waste.
The report does not cover all important aspects of dietary change.
The food industry needs to develop a balanced approach to food between net zero emissions and health goals. Without a position, the industry will be vulnerable to the policies imposed on it.
Ken Boyns, director of the AHDB Centre of Excellence, argues that red meat, dairy and eggs play a beneficial role in our diet.
He explains that there is a lot of controversy around dietary changes and eating less meat and milk. The organization provided feedback on previous versions of the report and stressed the importance of balancing the discussion.
Boyns said: “As a sampling committee, we have made it clear that red meat and milk are important components of a healthy diet.
The Health Benefits of Meat and Dairy Products
Lean red meat, dairy products and eggs can be part of a healthy diet and provide essential micronutrients. […] “Often missing from the diets of people, particularly nutritionally vulnerable groups.”
He said the levy committee had repeatedly stressed that global consumption of ruminant meat and milk would remain stable, which, provided some efficiency improvements were made, would not lead to increased global warming.
He says methane is not being accounted for in the way it is currently counted. Some will agree with this, but want consumption to decrease because they believe fossil fuels cannot be used up fast enough to prevent climate change.
The impact of food on our planet cannot be underestimated, says Simon Owen, managing director of Redefine Meat, adding that the IGD report clearly highlights the negative impacts of dairy and meat on the environment.
He argues that reducing the production of red meat and dairy was "a necessity", saying Redefine Meat is a major part of achieving this.
“[Plant-based] Owen argues that meat is a great way to help consumers reduce their traditional meat consumption without having to sacrifice their favorite foods.
English 
French