Livestock’s Unique Role in Food Security - GFJA’s Message at COP27
It is concerning that COP27 is mostly privileged people pushing policies to limit access to nutrient-dense food, like meat, which is also a culturally appropriate food to most. We need to recognize that livestock can provide critical ecosystem function and micronutrients.
On November 11, 2022, Global Food Justice Alliance Executive Director Diana Rodgers presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Her presentation focused on “The unique role of nutrient-dense animal proteins for sustainable food security” - an especially important presentation given that this perspective is often missing from the climate conversation.
COP27 is an intense and chaotic event, mainly filled with people talking about how to reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
Diana’s message was clear: animal-sourced foods, like meat, eggs, and dairy, are critical to solve micronutrient deficiencies and improve cognitive development, and are also a vital part of our culture and economy. Removing them would not only have catastrophic impacts on health, but is also moral and cultural imperialism.
If you want to see some of the actual slides from her presentation, check out this post on twitter. It’s clear people are interested in this information, because the thread was the #1 trending post of the day for #COP27.
Here’s some key takeaways from the presentation:
The claim that meat is unhealthy is based on shaky science. There are no experimental studies showing meat causes harm, only associations. We know typical meat eaters also tend to partake in other unhealthy behaviors like smoking and drinking. When accounting for these factors, red meat has not been found to cause ill health. We only have one experimental study looking at meat vs. less meat, which was done in Kenyan school children and it proved that adding meat increased their academic scores, their physical ability and their behavior.
Policymakers and others pushing for the removal or dramatic reduction in livestock suffer from “carbon tunnel vision”, failing to account for the value meat plays to human health, rural economies, and overall ecosystem function. Also, a “climate friendly diet” needs to consider not just “emissions” but the nutritional value of the food per serving (not per calorie), because a further shift away from meat will do more harm, especially to women and children.
Animal-sourced foods are the only or best source of many of the nutrients of concern. The leading micronutrient deficiencies are: iron, zinc, folate, vitamin A, vitamin D, and B12. Worldwide, 1 in 2 children and 2 in 3 women have at least one micronutrient deficiency, wreaking havoc on immune systems, hindering growth and development, and limiting human potential, all of which will have climate implications. These deficiencies are not limited to low- and middle-income countries. Iron deficiency alone impacts 1 in 5 women in the US, where we’re told to eat less meat, which is the best source of iron.
Because livestock can “up-cycle” nutrient poor food (food scraps, waste from the plant-protein industry, and grains) into protein, iron, B12 and other critical nutrients, they are a net win for our food system.
In the Global South, livestock is critical to wellbeing. 12% of the world’s population rely solely on livestock for their livelihood. Women in ½ of the countries in the world are unable to own land, but in many cases, they can own livestock, improving gender equality and household nutrition. In many places, livestock are a climate and resilience solution for many smallholder farmers because livestock are also less susceptible to drought or extreme weather.
It is concerning that COP27 is mostly privileged people with the means to push away nutritious food like meat pushing policies to limit access to nutrients in meat, which is also a culturally appropriate food to most.
If we do not have a nutritious food system that provides people with the nutrients they need to be healthy and develop properly, how will we ever meet the UNs Sustainable Development Goals?
The livestock and the industrial food industry does have its problems - we need better environmental practices, better grazing practices, and better animal welfare. However, arguments like “less meat, better meat” are elitist and harmful. It is unethical to tell people to only eat regenerative meat or don’t eat meat at all. Has your doctor ever told you to “only eat organic vegetables or don’t eat vegetables”?
Long story short: buy the best meat you can afford, but food policies must be based on nutrition science and we need to remove the “carbon tunnel vision” from climate policies. We need a lot more recognition that livestock can provide critical ecosystem function and micronutrients.
Thank you for reading and supporting GFJA. And a special thank you to those of you who have donated to the Global Food Justice Alliance or support us as sustaining members. Your donations make this important advocacy work possible!