The national week without meat

There are people who think that the world can do without meat. You can, but it's not good for the planet. Less weight is usually a goal in itself for wealthy city dwellers, so that's not such a bad thing. However, the problem arises with the group that has to get by on a few dollars a day. That realization should permeate better in the Netherlands.

If the non-digestible raw materials for human food (grass and by-products) from the processing of grain, beets or potatoes cannot be used for animal feed, they are lost. Animals, and ruminants in particular, are grateful buyers of these products. This also applies to co-products from the beer breweries and/or from the dairy industry. In addition, there are also expired foods that are no longer suitable for the food banks, but still have nutritional value for animal feed.

These return products also often find their way to animal feed companies. Added together, the animal feed industry makes a major contribution to the circular economy. Dutch livestock farming is so efficient that its environmental and climate impact is one of the lowest in the world. We are mentioned everywhere and regularly cited as an example for achieving the global climate goals.

'National week without meat'
So it does feel a bit uncomfortable when the initiators of the 'National Week without Meat' use suggestive images with shower water, chickens and the 'working' of a tree. If you address Dutch livestock farming, you must also use figures about that livestock farming. If you mean the global climate impact, you also have to compare the impact of Dutch meat consumption with that. That impact is negligible.

According to generally accepted guidelines, the Dutch consume an appropriate amount of meat per week on average. From the perspective of the climate, an optimal economy works with a ratio of 1/3 animal and 2/3 vegetable production of proteins. The use of grass and products that are not digestible for humans and end up in animal feed, but also the cycle of minerals and manure/organic matter on agricultural land form the basis for an optimum. 

What should we do with a 'National week without meat† Is it a week to take stock?

Henk Flipsen

Henk Flipsen has been the director and figurehead of Nevedi since 2007. He grew up on his parents' closed pig farm and also fulfills several managerial positions in the Agro & Food chains. † Photo: Nevedic

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