Some weeks ago environmental activist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot spoke out once again about the damaging role of livestock on the planet’s resources, destruction of landscapes, habitats and ecosystems. Time again we hear Monbiot frame livestock in this way, only this time it’s a direct attack on organic, pasture-fed ruminants and concurrently the Agroecology movement.
The claims Monbiot has made in his latest Guardian article against the pasture-fed agroecological livestock movement has caused great stir and is one-sided, polarising and alienating to all those who produce and consume food globally, including pastoralist communities whose livelihood depend on the rearing of livestock, and every individual who is on the frontline fighting for a transformation to the industrial, corporate-owned, profit-driven food chain.
Several key organisations have responded to Monbiot’s article with deep concern and urgency around the division it creates across the food and farming movement and the damning picture it gives of well managed livestock as part of healthy food and better more climate beneficial land management.
Our Director Gabriel Kaye was a co-signatory among many other organisation leads such as the Jyoti from Landworkers Alliance, Jimmy Woodrow from Pasture for Life, Patrick Holden from Sustainable Food Trust and others; all of whom drafted a grouped response demanding a more nuanced discussion.
Our global food system demands urgent answers to complex problems where solutions are not easily presented and trade-offs often complicate matters further. We urge all those who care deeply about these issues and are looking for a more balanced, open-ended and nuanced debate to read the letter below and share as widely as possible.
Our co-signatory letter:
There are huge and urgent questions to be asked and answered about the current globalised food system. In cherry picking examples of poor agricultural practice, highlighting particular academic research, and demonising organic and pasture-fed livestock, George Monbiot (The most damaging farm products? Organic, pasture-fed beef and lamb) risks joining curious bedfellows, who claim definitive knowledge of ‘the science’, and alienating fellow travellers in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
As Prof Tim Benton and Dr Helen Harwatt said in their recent Chatham House paper, “the sustainability of the food system depends on assumptions that come with a values-laden basis.” It is a shame that the article failed to reference new research and farmer-led innovation, (including IDDRI and Feeding Britain) and the vital role ruminant animals play in providing agricultural fertility.
There are real risks in undermining the farmers who are working hard to end reliance on fossil-fuel dependent practices, sequester carbon, restore nature, and to demonstrate an alternative to the current globalised, commodified and financialised system, which is, we agree, doing so much harm to people and planet. It undermines the global movement for agroecology, led by the Global South, discounting the important role livestock has to play in nutrition security, fertility rotations, conservation grazing and the livelihoods of small farmers and pastoralists.
Our organisations reflect a wide range of perspectives on food and farming. We all share a deep concern that polarising and simplifying these vital debates is distracting and unhelpful. Encouraging citizens to reject truly sustainable farming systems risks boosting the backlash against serious action on the climate and nature crisis. Farming can be a force for change, at the heart of thriving rural communities, with huge potential to build resilience and security into our food system, finding local, workable and fair solutions to the serious challenges ahead.
Gabriel Kaye Biodynamic Association
Christopher Stopes English Organic Forum
Sue Pritchard Food Farming and Countryside Commission
Roger Kerr OF&G
Jimmy Woodrow Pasture for Life
Jyoti Fernades MBE Landworkers Alliance
Patrick Holden CBE Sustainable Food Trust
Also head to the following links to read other valuable responses; letter by Jyoti Fernandes Landworkers Alliance, further rebuttals please see Colin Tudge’s critiques of Monbiots latest book Regenesis: Feeding the World Without Devouring the Planet
For those that have more time on their hands read the lengthy response on Regenetarianism site by an anonymous blogger. Along with wider discussions and critiques of Monbiots latest book by Dan Saladino. Finally, Chris Smaje blog provides another perspective on the Monbiot discussion, making the case for agrarian localism where livestock have a place in localised economies and where food production is decentralised and people are at the heart of production.
Please share far and wide and join the global movement in contributing to discussions on the role of livestock that include balanced and nuanced perspectives.
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