Meat Archives - Agricultural and Rural Convention

Part 2 | Ireland, Food Security & Feed(ing the World) – Ireland and the Archipelago

July 14, 2022 Stuart Meikle

Part two of four from Stuart Meikle on Ireland, food security and feed(ing) the world delves into the relationship Britain and Ireland have with each other – the two main islands of the archipelago referred to in the article’s title. Part one (see below) focused on Ireland, food security and nitrogen supply. Here, trade, animal feed, meats, durable forms of diary all feature. […]

Letter From The Farm | Health, Husbandry & High Quality Meat

October 1, 2021 Shane Casey

We’re back on Shane Casey’s farm in the Burren, Ireland. Here, with the harvest in full swing, lambs and weanlings are being sold. In an ideal world Shane would like his meat to be consumed locally. In reality, in rural areas like his, supply outstrips demand. Shane prides himself on the quality of his meat. Working backwards from butchery to husbandry to breeding, he shares some insights into the process. […]

Meat Atlas 2021 – Everyday Food and Luxury Good

September 14, 2021 ARC

To mark the publication of the Meat Atlas 2021, we will republish a selection of our favourite articles. Here, Lisa Tostado introduces the Atlas, with a big picture take on changes in meat production and consumption in recent decades. The MEAT ATLAS 2021 is jointly published by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Berlin, Germany Friends of the Earth Europe, Brussels, Belgium Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz, Berlin, Germany. […]

Letter From The Farm | Rasputin The Ram & The Ethics Of Lamb For Easter Dinner

April 12, 2021 Matthew Hayes

We’re back on Zsámbok farm in Hungary, where Matthew, Kata and the team have been doing some deep thinking about the ethics of taking a life as they slaughter their first sheep. The farm is trying to strike a balance between respecting traditions while pursuing sustainability and efficiency, writes Matthew – and learning as they go. […]

Swiss Study Backs Water Clean-Up

July 27, 2020 Peter Crosskey

As part of Switzerland’s groundwork for its Clean Drinking Water Initiative, the Swiss federal government’s food and environmental agency Agroscope has completed a second, detailed study on the environmental impact the clean drinking water initiative can achieve. Peter Crosskey found that Agroscope’s preliminary findings suggest that while the country could indeed reduce pesticide levels in its drinking water, the gains would be eroded by the current carbon footprint of imported foods. […]

Covid-19 & Meat Processing Plants: An EU-wide response?

June 4, 2020 Alison Brogan

Covid-19 outbreaks in meat factories worldwide are revealing different responses for the exposed workers – and make the case for an EU wide standard for meat factory workers. Alison Brogan highlights recent developments in Germany and Ireland. […]

Letter From The Farm | A Conscientious Objector to the Meat Industry

May 28, 2020 Louise Kelleher

Meet Josef, a Czech livestock farmer who is a conscientious objector to the meat industry. For ethical reasons he slaughters his animals on farm and sells the meat locally to friends and neighbours. On-farm slaughter is not legally possible for small farmers in the Czech Republic, where the only ways to kill a cow are via big processors, investing in your own on-farm facility – which is prohibitively expensive – or live exports. In order to speak freely about his activities, Josef (not his real name) chose to remain anonymous for this conversation with Louise Kelleher. […]

Poking Holes in Farm to Fork: Environmental Groups Seek a Coherent Vision

March 24, 2020 Louise Kelleher

Healthy ecosystems are the foundation for food production, but they are pushed to breaking point by the current system. In the face of existential threats, Farm to Fork needs a coherent vision. Friends of the Earth Europe, WWF, Birdlife Europe, Greenpeace, ClientEarth and Pesticides Action Network weigh in on the European Commission’s Roadmap to food sustainability. […]

If Not Meat Then What? Climate Change, Regenerative Ag and Viable Rural Areas

November 4, 2018 Oliver Moore

The starkness of the IPCC’s most recent climate change warnings – of 12 year window before runaway impacts – has focused the minds of many. What role – if any – for livestock in this brave new herd? […]

Emissions Impossible | Climate Impact of Big Meat and Dairy

July 20, 2018 Helene Schulze

A new report by IATP and GRAIN out this week highlights the devastating impact of the meat and dairy giants on the environment. If GHG emissions from this sector continue as predicted, the Paris Agreement goals are firmly out of reach. […]

#SoilMatters – So How Did Our Authors Treat It?

July 2, 2018 ARC

Here we summarise and provide links to all eight contributions to the soil matters article series. From soil and the city to no till, humus and technical articles from soil scientists, there is much in here to cause wonder, controversy and, it is hoped, greater understanding. […]

Stuart Miekle | Soil-Focused Farming Benefits Society

June 8, 2018 Stuart Meikle

Interested in reducing the GHG emissions from producing our food? Better nutrition and health and lower healthcare costs? Reducing the pollution from our food production systems? Then read what Stuart Miekle has to say about how a soil focused farming benefits these and other aspects of society. […]

Ireland’s “Livestock-Industrial-Complex”

December 6, 2017 Frank Armstrong

This long read by Frank Armstrong gives a background into what he calls the livestock industrial complex. Part history, part contemporary agri-food overview, part health and environmental case and part personal note, this article is speaks of power and how it operates in different spheres. These include politics, media and nutritional advice, all through the prism of livestock farming in Ireland. […]

Turns Out Organic Can Feed The World – Sustainably

November 28, 2017 Oliver Moore

Changes over to 40%, 60% and even 100% organic farming can feed the world. Interestingly, this is only possible if we also do two things we’re supposed to do anyway. So what are these two crucial components of a truly sustainable diet, which would need to accompany organic farming? […]

Carry on with the Currywurst? Factory farming enters coalition debate in Germany

November 12, 2017 Helene Schulze

How realistic is the Green Party demand in the current coalition talks for an agricultural turn, including the phase out of factory farming in 20 years? In the land of the near ubiquitous bratwurst, main ingredient in Germany’s’ number one fast food currywurst, how strong is the undercurrent of opposition to factory farmed pork and poultry? […]