[sofixa]

It's actually relatively easy - most countries don't have the land to produce enough plant-based calories, and have plenty of meat-based calorie production.

Why would a government bankrupt an existing and well known and visible sector, to be replaced by imports? Lots of people would be pissed.

[Viliam1234]

> most countries don't have the land to produce enough plant-based calories, and have plenty of meat-based calorie production.

Citation needed. How can a country have enough land for plants to feed pigs and cows that humans will later eat, but not enough land for plants to feed the humans?

[sofixa]

As explained elsewhere, lots of the land cows and pigs and sheep and etc. inhabit and graze on is unsuitable for regular crops due to the terrain, fertility, or simply crop rotation.