Green Issues
Answer: Tanning is energy intensive, highly polluting and uses large volumes of water. Methane from farm animals like sheep and cattle is a major factor in global climate change. Hemp is an environmentally friendly crop, which is used to make a wide range of items like clothes, shoes and rucksacks.
Answer: There would be plenty of spare land to encourage wildlife and to provide recreation for people. Vegans can enjoy watching wild animals. Some animals which used to be farmed could be kept in parks - if they were allowed to live naturally, and cared for well.
Answer: There are soya some varieties which will grow here (like the non-GM 'Ustie'). There have been some small commercial crops. We choose to consume many foods and drinks that are imported such as tea, coffee, bananas and chocolate. Some people would argue that we should not eat any of these imported foods but poor people around the world depend on our money for their livelihood. We need to eat as many foods as possible that are locally produced but it is unlikely that people would be willing to give up all imported foods. 70% of animal feed is imported from outside the EU, mainly soya often imported from countries suffering from malnutrition.
Answer: A varied vegan diet uses less than one third of the land needed for a typical European omnivorous diet. So a vegan population needs less farm land, leaving more for the natural environment. Eating crops directly also uss much less water and energy.
Answer: In the Amazon, livestock are the top cause of deforestation. Over 70% of soya worldwide is used as animal feed.
Answer: Meat eaters may eat more imported soya than vegans! Most farm animals are fed prepared feed, often containing soya or maize. About 70% of animal feed in Europe is imported, often from countries where people suffer malnutrition. Over 70% of soya worldwide is used as animal feed.
Answer: The UK has lots of good arable land suitable for growing fruit, vegetables and grains to meet the needs of the UK population. Other land may be suitable for nut and fruit trees. Hill farms may be useful for growing wood, or can return to native woodland.
Answer: Grazing animals like Exmoor ponies and deer could maintain moorland, if they were allowed to live naturally, and cared for well. Fallow moorland will return to native woodland.