The reality of government subsidies

Good Morning! This week we have good news on the sustainability of plant-based foods vs meat and the not so good news of how governments continue to support animal agriculture over plant-based alternatives. We also take a look at how plant-based is defined, hear about the only justifiable way to exist, and share our plans for a tasty weekend curry!

What’s Happening?

💷The Shocking Truth of How Subsidies Impact the Cost of Plant-Based vs. Animal Meat

• Government subsidies heavily favour meat and dairy production over plant-based alternatives, with the former receiving a significantly larger portion of financial support, contributing to lower prices for animal products.

• Recent studies highlight a substantial increase in financial support to major meat producers, exacerbating climate change impacts and creating a price disparity that affects consumer choices.

• Advocates call for subsidy reform, suggesting a more equitable distribution of government support to encourage sustainable and nutritious food production, including plant-based alternatives.

🌍Study Finds Plant-Based Beef Significantly More Sustainable Than Traditional Beef

• A study by Macquarie University finds plant-based beef dramatically reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 86-97%, needing less than 5% of the land compared to traditional beef.

• Plant-based beef generally contains less protein and saturated fat but higher carbs and sodium, suggesting potential room for nutritional improvements.

• The study emphasises plant-based beef's sustainability advantage, although it notes these products often fall into the ultra-processed food category, affecting health comparisons with beef.

🎥‘Food For Profit’: The New Documentary On Factory Farming In Europe

• "Food For Profit," an explosive new documentary, explores the deep ties between the European Parliament and the €387 billion factory farming industry through a five-year investigation.

• The film reveals the industry's significant taxpayer funding and its impact, challenging the notion of European meat and dairy quality.

• Highlighting undercover investigations and interviews, the documentary exposes systemic corruption and the influence of powerful lobbies in perpetuating intensive farming practices.

I won’t get all tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist here but the very obvious takeaway from the three articles above is that any current talk of what’s being done to reduce human impact on the environment from government and decision makers worldwide is unfortunately nothing more than lip service.

🏷️Shoppers prefer ‘vegan’ food labels to ‘confusing’ plant-based terms, according to new survey

• The Big Vegan Survey 2024 by Vegan Food & Living reveals a strong preference among vegans for the term 'vegan' over 'plant-based' or 'meat-free' for food labelling, with 74% favoring 'vegan'.

• 'Plant-based' is perceived as a diluted form of veganism, occasionally encompassing products with animal derivatives like honey, leading to confusion.

• Vegan certification logos, such as the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark, offer clarity, though concerns about cross-contamination are noted for those with food allergies.

🎨Company Raises $3.2 Million For Plant-Based Pigment Development

• UK-based company Sparxell secures $3.2 million to enhance its pioneering plant-based pigments, aimed at replicating nature's vibrant hues sustainably.

• Utilising cellulose, these pigments offer a renewable and biodegradable alternative for various industries, including cosmetics and automotive, with production from waste streams.

• The initiative underscores a shift towards eco-friendly colouring methods, countering traditional pigment productions environmental and health impacts.

What’s The Difference Between Vegan & Plant-Based?

Something that’s often mentioned but not always clearly understood by all; what exactly is the difference between being vegan and being plant-based?

First off let’s get the most obvious difference out of the way: veganism isn’t bound by diet - it’s an ethical commitment to avoid the use of animals for any purpose, including food, clothing, entertainment, or any other form of exploitation. 

On the flip side, when someone mentions they're plant-based, they're typically referring to their dietary choices alone. This way of eating usually centres around whole, minimally processed foods derived from plants, sidestepping meat, dairy, and eggs. However, unlike veganism, this choice isn't necessarily rooted in ethics. It's generally about health and wellness, focusing on the nutritional benefits of plant-derived foods.

However the lack of a clear and agreed upon definition of plant-based causes much confusion; to some people it means only eating foods derived from plants and excludes any animal products. To others it means mostly eating foods derived from plants but occasionally consuming animals or animal derived products.

Personally I appreciate that some people can get upset when the words vegan diet are used in tandem - as we’ve established, it’s not a diet. Having said that, as a vegan, I have no issue referring to a ‘vegan diet’ when describing my food choices. It’s a clear definition of how vegans eat. Regardless of whether that mainly involves fruit and veggies or vegan pizza and ice cream!

If you’re vegan how do you describe the way you eat? Hit reply and let me know!

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Watch & Learn

The Only Justifiable Way to Exist

Ed believes that living a vegan life is the only justifiable way to exist, minimising suffering for animals, ourselves, and the planet. Be like Ed. ✌️

What’s Cooking?

Anyone that’s been subscribed to the newsletter for a while will know I’m a big curry fan. This one by The Vegan Nutritionist is on the menu for the weekend. Love the idea of combining tofu, cashew and pea for texture variety. 😋🍛

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