Selected Publications
The Green Protein Report: Meeting New Zealand’s Climate Change Targets by 2030
Through Reduced Reliance on Animal Agriculture
Authors: Jasmijn de Boo & Andrew Knight
Published by the Vegan Society NZ/Aotearoa on 31 March 2020.
In the light of COVID-19, which seemed to have jumped species in a ‘wet’ market, we need to review our interaction with the natural world, the global food system and consider how nations respond to agricultural threats and opportunities.
New Zealand / Aotearoa
Why do we need to rethink production and consumption? How can a transition be done? What are the issues we need to address? Where do meat and dairy fit in? ‘The Green Protein Report’ answers these questions and many more specifically for New Zealand. This detailed dossier explores how this can be achieved, how much profit there is to be made from plant-based products, and how much healthier citizens would be if eating more plant-based food.
Currently, arable land is not fully utilised; we could increase cropping and horticultural land by up to ten times to what it now is. For too long, animal agriculture has dominated landscapes, and it has resulted in mass deforestation and leaching of nitrates into rivers. New Zealand has one of the highest methane emissions per capita, soils are being eroded, native wildlife has been decimated, and New Zealand is losing its “clean and green” image even further in the eyes of the world.
Transition to plant-based farming
The report makes compelling evidence for a new way for New Zealand to farm and produce food. We must start to reduce our reliance on animal agriculture and make the transition to plant-based farming now. We need governments to encourage and support those farmers who see that the writing is on the wall for meat and dairy. There is no more time to waste if we are to meet our Paris Agreement goals, and our best chance to achieve greenhouse gas emissions is to reduce our stock numbers, especially the number of dairy cattle.
Public health and diet
There is much evidence to support the use of plant-based diets to reduce the risks of getting lifestyle-related diseases. As a result of excessive food consumption in general, and animal products in particular, Kiwis have become obese, and are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. People suffer heart attacks and the incidence of certain cancers has increased. Many of these diseases can be reversed by a fully plant-based diet, using mostly whole foods. It is time we accepted the figures, and made those changes necessary within our public buildings, especially in schools, hospitals, and prisons.
Animal welfare
There are 160 million farmed animals based in New Zealand and in spite of the much-touted Animal Welfare Bill, New Zealand were ranked just 30th out of 50 countries for animal welfare standards. While New Zealand has recognised that animals are sentient beings, they are not treated as such. Newborn animals are removed from their mothers, with all the suffering which that entails because people like the taste of cheese. It is no longer acceptable to treat animals as commodities, and the Earth simply cannot continue to support our strong reliance on animal production.
The future is green
We need to value our resources better and reinvigorate the plundered landscape. New Zealand can indeed be clean and green. There are innovators who can provide top quality fruits, vegetables, grains, and added-value plant-based products for export, as well as supplying local needs easily and cheaply. The time for transitioning from animal to plant-based agriculture is now if we are to avoid further climate change, environmental damage and if we are serious about improving public health.
Educating the veterinary professional about animal welfare
Summary
For many years, animal welfare organisations have taken the lead in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, as well as help- ing to change attitudes towards animals. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has often lagged behind in its support for reform. It is vital therefore that veterinary training includes a good grounding in animal welfare education. In 2003, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol launched the ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare Syllabus’ to assist with the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary faculties. The syllabus stimulates focused critical thinking on animal welfare issues.
De Boo J and Knight A (2006). Educating the veterinary professional about animal welfare. Altern Anim Experimentation 23(Spl. issue: Proc. 5th World Congress 2005), 71-74.
Concepts in Animal Welfare’: a syllabus in animal welfare science and ethics for veterinary schools
With Spanish translation
Abstract
For many years, animal welfare organisations have taken the lead in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, as well as helping to change attitudes towards animals. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has often lagged behind in its support for reform. It is vital therefore that veterinary training includes a good grounding in animal welfare education. In 2003, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol launched the ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare Syllabus’ to assist with the teaching of animal welfare in veterinary faculties. The syllabus stimulates focused critical thinking on animal welfare issues.
De Boo J and Knight A (2005). ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare’: a syllabus in animal welfare science and ethics for veterinary schools. J Vet Med Educ, 32(4), 451-453.
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