Norfolk's animal farmers urged to switch to crops, to help UK reach climate targets
Animal welfare group PETA are making the appeal as COP27 gets underway
An animal welfare group are encouraging Norfolk's animal farmers to move to arable farming, to help the UK reach their climate target.
PETA are making the appeal as COP27 gets underway, but the idea's been deemed controversial as pig and poultry farming contributes around £800 million to the local economy, every year.
"If fewer people are shopping for these items"
Jennifer White is from the group.
She told us we're all key to helping local farmers make the switch:
"It's important that it starts with us the consumers first by choosing the plant milks, the vegan cheese and meat-free products because if fewer people are shopping for these items, then fewer animals will have to be raised to produce them and then this will give farmers more time to transition to work that we know is less damaging to animals and the environment".
"We have seen dairy milk consumption fall for decades and we know that almost half of the population are already drinking plant-based milks in their coffee. We are also seeing some of Britain's largest meat companies are now producing meat-free sausages bacon and other plant-based meat to meet the demand".
"We all need farmers, but they don't need to exploit animals".
Ms White says change is possible :
"Our farmers are open to transitioning if it's what the consumers want. It's becoming very clear that the future is looking plant based. That's why the United Nations is also urging everyone to migrate to eating a plant-based diet. We need British farmers to support that as well".
"We all need farmers, but they don't need to exploit animals. Hopefully that is going to become very clear to the Government as well as they try to meet all of their carbon emissions goals. It's bizarre to think that we are still intensively farming cows and other animals so we can still drink their milk when there are so many environmentally friendly alternatives".