|
I think this narrative is stretched. Most of our calories are from monocropped commodities like maize, canola & soy. These are indeed efficient. High calorie per dollar value, but also high calorie per land/fertilizer/water/etc. This is true for eggs, but also true for fruit, nuts, tomatoes. Everything compares poorly to maize. These types of analysis are full of such biases. "Pasturelands" are huge because they are low intensity... think of outback cattle stations in Australia. There certainly is a conversation to be had about rewilding low intensity lands, or farming them in more eco-friendly ways, considering the high land/food ratio. But... most animal husbandry happens at much, much higher density. Egg farming compares pretty well to fruit, vegetables, almonds, etc. So yes, if we consume commodity crops instead of meat, fruit, vegetables and other non staple foods then the food system becomes much more efficient. I don't think it's realistic or desirable though. On paper, where I'm dictator of the world, I can make a lot of things efficient. Food, energy, transport. I could easily find an omnivorous formula more efficient to the average vegan diet, also healthier and tastier. This is a disingenuous game. I agree that it would be good to have more moores and wild lands. Becoming vegan does not help this cause. Unexploited land is only unexploited because of legal protections. Not one acre will go unexploited because enough people became vegan. This kind of "consumer action" mentality never works, is usually built on a disingenuous simplification, and it's ridiculous here too. |
There was a great interview with one of the guys who bought a black rhino tag and pissed the Internet off.
Very thoughtful guy, and his core message was "Given enough time, the only animals left on this planet will be those that are useful to humans or able to hide from us." In that an economic incentive is the only sure motivator of action over the long term, and so if we want to preserve something then we'd better find a financially sustainable model to do so.
And land can't hide.