The Hollywood director says we should terminate livestock farming and embrace plant-based alternatives, something alien to our rural history.
He’s right on a few things – there is a trend towards eating less meat but for those who can afford it the focus is on quality.
Our farmers have this market in their sights.
There’s also a move towards diversification for many farmers. Hemp, cereal crops, bees and trees are becoming more and more a part of some farms.
Alternative proteins, the avatars of meat, are making progress in the market and will become part of the mix.
Production of these products is ramping up and they are already making the move from boutique eateries to fast food restaurants with Burger King first off the mark.
Some nations and some in industry are fighting this new player by challenging the labels they use and attacking the provenance and ingredients.
That’s fine but it sure sounds like the second phase of grief – anger. Next will come bargaining, depression and acceptance.
Why don’t we accept the world is changing now and just focus on how we can thrive in it rather than trying to hold a piece of ground that is in the rear view mirror?
We need to move forward with a clear idea of how our animal proteins fit into the diets of the next generation. There’s great opportunity there and some of that might involve diversifying into plant proteins and lessening our dependence on livestock.
But there is a place for it in NZ farming.
Much of our land is unsuitable for crops and last year’s storm on the East Coast proved some of it’s not right for forestry either.
Saying hasta la vista to livestock entirely isn’t the answer for a world craving high-quality protein.
Bryan Gibson
