I'm really enjoying all of your blogs (I've used the your writings on Polanyi in my university classes). This is really interesting. I'm a fan of Michael Pollan's "Food Rules". Eat real food, mostly plants, not so much. Works really well. As for animal based diets, our planet simply cannot withstand 7+ billion people having a meat-based diet (this is the kind of stuff I study). On the other hand, the Savory Institute is on to something (our research does indicate that proper grazing can improve soil carbon), but "Cows Save the Planet" unfortunately makes extraordinary claims that are unlikely to be supported by science.
I'm curious, what claims does the book contain that aren't supported by science?
From your post, I gather (no pun intended, hah) that you believe our diets should be a mixture of both animal and plant products. I agree that CAFO animal products are extremely negative all around (human health, animal welfare, the environment). I'm guessing you also believe that there isn't enough grazable land to support our population on non-CAFO raised animal products. We can't all eat "Grass-fed" beef, in other words. I have some honest and curious questions.
Would it be fair to say that, since more than 50% of human caloric intake is made up of cereal grains and only 25% on animal products, that humans are currently on a "grain-based" diet, and not a meat-based diet? Should the majority of our diet be based on mono-cultured wheat, soy, and corn products, as it is currently? Is this the best way to support human health, animal welfare, and the environment?
Less than 10% of earth's surface is capable of crop production. What effect on the environment would increasing the plant proportion of our diet have? How do we feed people in areas of the planet that don't support crop production but do support animal production? I'm guessing you believe that the western world eats too much CAFO-raised animal products, and I agree. But how do we support developing countries that rely on animal foods, especially those places not suitable for large-scale mono-culture agriculture?
I don't know the answers to these questions, I'm game for an insightful discussion. Cheers!
Absolutely spot-on, as are all of your blog entires. When it comes to the future of food production, I would love to get your take on "regenerative agriculture" and "holistic farming." For example, books such as "Cows Save the Planet" by Judith D. Schwartz and "The Soil Will Save Us" by Kristin Ohlsony, as well as the work of the Savory Institute (https://savory.global/). Keep up the great work!
I'm really enjoying all of your blogs (I've used the your writings on Polanyi in my university classes). This is really interesting. I'm a fan of Michael Pollan's "Food Rules". Eat real food, mostly plants, not so much. Works really well. As for animal based diets, our planet simply cannot withstand 7+ billion people having a meat-based diet (this is the kind of stuff I study). On the other hand, the Savory Institute is on to something (our research does indicate that proper grazing can improve soil carbon), but "Cows Save the Planet" unfortunately makes extraordinary claims that are unlikely to be supported by science.
I'm curious, what claims does the book contain that aren't supported by science?
From your post, I gather (no pun intended, hah) that you believe our diets should be a mixture of both animal and plant products. I agree that CAFO animal products are extremely negative all around (human health, animal welfare, the environment). I'm guessing you also believe that there isn't enough grazable land to support our population on non-CAFO raised animal products. We can't all eat "Grass-fed" beef, in other words. I have some honest and curious questions.
Would it be fair to say that, since more than 50% of human caloric intake is made up of cereal grains and only 25% on animal products, that humans are currently on a "grain-based" diet, and not a meat-based diet? Should the majority of our diet be based on mono-cultured wheat, soy, and corn products, as it is currently? Is this the best way to support human health, animal welfare, and the environment?
Less than 10% of earth's surface is capable of crop production. What effect on the environment would increasing the plant proportion of our diet have? How do we feed people in areas of the planet that don't support crop production but do support animal production? I'm guessing you believe that the western world eats too much CAFO-raised animal products, and I agree. But how do we support developing countries that rely on animal foods, especially those places not suitable for large-scale mono-culture agriculture?
I don't know the answers to these questions, I'm game for an insightful discussion. Cheers!
This is my favorite series you've ever done.
Absolutely spot-on, as are all of your blog entires. When it comes to the future of food production, I would love to get your take on "regenerative agriculture" and "holistic farming." For example, books such as "Cows Save the Planet" by Judith D. Schwartz and "The Soil Will Save Us" by Kristin Ohlsony, as well as the work of the Savory Institute (https://savory.global/). Keep up the great work!