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Needing sustenance

The business of farming has never been more relevant, as more people populate the earth. Finding ways to feed nine billion people means farming must get smarter. But the question arises, is meat and dairy consumption the way to go? Should all these people be eating meat and dairy? Is China’s move to a more western diet the best thing for its populace?
There are plenty of people, particularly in non-governmental organisations, who say no. Raising livestock eats up valuable land that could be put to raising grain for people instead. It’s less stress on the environment. People should try to adopt alternate ways of feeding themselves, mostly plants.
I am not too sure about that argument. I think we should always keep, at the back of our minds the old adage: beware the law of unintended consequences. When biofuels first came on the market, they were seen as a saviour – no more dependence on oil! Oil bad, biofuel good. That is, until they start knocking down the rainforest to make room for growing crops for biofuels. Suddenly, the biofuel-filled automobile is not such a hot idea.
Also, I think I’d rather have a British-produced piece of cheese that just travelled across the M25 to get to me, rather than an organic anything from Kenya. Then again, what about the farmers in Kenya who rely on Tesco’s business?
You see what the problem is. Figuring out sustainability in this complex modern world is a challenge. Push one thing and another thing falls out the side. It reminds me of trying to clean my cupboard at home.
But the brave folk at Dairy UK were trying to do just that at the recent conference they held in London. They not only looked at sustainability for dairy, but also questioned whether dairy should be in the picture at all when trying to feed the world. (Ed. note: they obviously concluded yes, or else we’re all out of a job.) I am not sure they came to any definitive answers, except about having dairy in our lives, but they are certainly willing to try, unlike other food sectors.
They are also working with those people who normally shout at them from the other side of the fence, the non-governmental organisations. It was a heartening sight to see the Vegan Society and the World Wildlife Fund at the conference, trying to noodle out exactly what a sustainable farming world would look like.
There was even a jug of soya drink for those who like it with their teas and coffees at the break, which I have never seen before at a dairy event. (And hopefully never will again. That liquid soya stuff is just… unspeakable.) I think the United Nations could learn a thing or two from the British dairy industry. Whether you agree with someone’s beliefs or not, you need to give them a hearing. Who knows, you might learn something.





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