Forward Thinking: Can going vegan feed the world?

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2024

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could going vegan help feed the world and save the planet? While industry and energy production are often singled out as the main drivers of climate change, the global meat production industry is a bigger polluter. Veganism advocate Gary Francione and nutritionist Dr Ron Weiss join Nuala McGovern to discuss the pros and cons of veganism. While it might make sense from an ethical and climate change perspective, it is a massive cultural leap for many. We ask whether veganism could really be useful in places where food might not be readily available. And answer concerns over whether a non-meat diet can provide adequate nutrition.

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the BBC World Service, this edition of the documentary podcast,
0:04.6	Forward Thinking is the third of four programs recorded at the Oxford Literary Festival
0:09.7	with the Telegraph.
0:10.8	And we're asking can veganism feed the world and save the planet
0:18.6	in the process. We're asking this at Worcester College. Green lawns outside of course this eminent
0:27.2	location of learning. Wonderful to have both of my guests here with me, Gary Franzione, welcome.
0:35.0	Thank you. And also Ron Weiss, welcome.
0:38.0	Let me begin with you, Gary.
0:41.0	veganism is abstaining from all animal products.
0:45.0	Do you think veganism can save the world?
0:48.0	I think veganism is the only thing.
0:50.0	I mean if we do not go vegan, we won't save the world. I mean think about it.
0:55.0	Half of the habitable land on the planet is devoted to agriculture with 80% of that involving livestock and only 20% of it producing food that humans
1:08.0	eat directly.
1:09.6	The inefficiency is profound.
1:11.9	As a result of animal agriculture we're having
1:14.0	deforestation decimation of species water pollution if we all went vegan we
1:21.5	would reduce the amount of land being used for agriculture by 75%.
1:26.6	If everyone had a vegan diet, we would have no problem feeding 9.5 billion people.
1:33.2	If we do not, with a standard American diet,
1:35.6	we can feed 15% of them.
1:37.9	But it's not happening.
	...

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