Neither Fish nor Flesh? September 2011 Louise O. Fresco
Consumption follows income growth Major growth in pork, poultry and aquaculture
Meat & Ambivalence the dual symbol of strength and destruction
Animal welfare concerns
Human disease risk (zoonotic diseases such as avian flu)
Fish consumption grows as fast as meat consumption
Meat as a new Moral Issue how important is meat to you?
How important is meat (fish) to you? I eat meat (fish) every day I eat meat (fish) more than once a day I eat meat (fish) a t every meal I prefer: chicken, pork, mutton/lamb, beef, other... I eat more meat (fish) than my parents used to eat
Why do we eat meat and fish(1) ? It is part of human evolution
Declining meat consumption with the invention of agriculture
Chinese invention of fish culture
Why do we eat meat and fish(2) ? The need for proteins
Animal and plant proteins
Animal proteins have made us strong and healthy, but we now consume too much protein with associated health risks
Food in Paradise was vegetarian!
In the Bible meat and fish only came after the Great Flood
Meat and fish are part of our cultural traditions
Affluence means unlimited proteins
Strong urban demand for animal foods
We eat meat because sometimes there is no alternative production
Monogastrics: more efficient but risky
Large scale production in world wide trading networks
Depletion of Fish Resources
The Modern Consumer does not want to know about the origin of food
Romantic views of farming
Protests against meat production
What is the future for meat and fish consumption? Demonising meat and fish is not a solution Taxation of meat leads to negative side effects Stimulate sustainable production Promote healthy eating Research on alternatives
New vegetable proteins
Other sources of maritime proteins: algae
International agreements on proteins?
Neither Fish nor Flesh? Both, but in moderation...