In defence of meat

By Andrea Bertaglio

In today's society, the livestock industry is often blamed for various global issues, and the production of meat and cured meats have been stigmatized as a significant contributor. However, it is crucial to provide accurate information on these matters. Environmental journalist Andrea Bertaglio shares the perspectives of breeders, producers, and omnivorous individuals to remind the public that farming is not always as portrayed in some animal rights videos on the internet and television. Though the industry does have its challenges, it is essential to present a balanced view to avoid confusion and misinformation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Youcanprint
• Release date: Apr 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9791221473025

Book preview

A few basic premises

How I got here, and why I wrote this book

I have been writing about the environment and dealing with ecology issues for over fifteen years. During this time, I've seen a little bit of everything; from the world of associations to that of activists, from publishing to the corporate world, numerous ways of defending the environment and people's interest - all of them very varied. Over time, I have come to realise that, in fact, there is no right or wrong approach. Although nature is more than capable of defending itself and surviving the worst efforts of humankind, when dealing with ecology it is impossible not to be involved up to the point of making environmental defence a reason for living. It comes about slowly, and without you realising it. At the same time, it is a process where you risk losing your ability to think clearly, crystallising your perspective or your opinions that you assume are correct. Aided by the enormous power lying in the hands of journalists, who - through the illusion of appearing objective - are capable of influencing more or less tens of thousands of people (potentially millions when working on TV or major newspapers). You often say what you want to say in good faith, while omitting what you don't. Whether for convenience or personal gain, in order to follow the editorial line of the newspaper, for mere ideological convictions or for the simple need to make an audience, many journalists end up narrating almost entirely from their own point of view, rather than with the neutrality that should characterise their profession.

Those who know me, know that I have spent time not only in the world of environmentalism but also of that of degrowth. I have collaborated with newspapers, magazines, and websites that are anything but complacent towards the corporate system, starting from animal husbandry. For these reasons, I have had the opportunity to engage with the vegan community, dealing with a broad range of personalities and approaches to green life. I've been surprised to see people who are depicted as ruthless enemies by an environmental association turning out to be, in reality, more professional, correct and humane than those convinced that they are the diehard bearers of truth. Examples include farmers, corporations, breeders, trade associations and certain enlightened entrepreneurs and industrialists.

Over the years, I have developed a range of lifestyle approaches that are far more sustainable than average. From maximising reuse and waste reduction to quitting using a car for some years while in the city - in the countryside it was impossible - to having a small vegetable garden, I was able to experience a wide variety of lifestyles and exercise personal choices. I went from challenging the corporate world to progressively approaching it, as they seemed to me the only ones capable of seriously and concretely changing things. I found I was able to change many of my perspectives without abandoning my basic principles. Dealing with the world of industrial production, I had to recalibrate on many beliefs. Despite the fact that this has cost me a great deal of energy and inconvenience, it was worthwhile.

Perhaps the one thing I've never been able to modify is my approach to veganism. This was the case even at my peak of environmental activism, when collaborating with those magazines or websites that provide points of reference in the Italian vegan world, at the height of my involvement with the degrowth. Even when I wrote the preface to a book by a dear friend of mine, Stefania Rossini - an icon of the Italian vegan world - I never even pretended to be a vegetarian or a vegan. Veganism, a respectable lifestyle choice from many points of view, is perhaps the finest example of detachment from nature and from how this planet functions adopted by the 'urban' human being. Nature is cruel, and there is no form of life that doesn't feed on another in order to survive. Indeed, it is the basis of life itself. It is funny to see veganism therefore erected as a symbol of the defence of nature; it is disturbing to see how animal protection is reduced to mere humanisation. Protecting animals is not about providing a coat for our dog, or cuddling a cow, or letting a pig sit at the table with us. And insects, which represent the vast majority of the animal world, are seemingly creatures that animal rights activists don't seem to care about.

I am from Lombardy, and I am proud of my roots and traditions. I love all meat and cured meats, as well as many kinds of cheese and other foods of animal origin. I have always been aware of the importance that animal farming has had in humanity's cognitive, social, physiological and cultural development. From the environmentalist's perspective, I have never been able to make any real sense of, and therefore agree with, the 'veg' cause. Even when committing myself to trying - as I did without success in the first months of 2002 and then again a decade later - I could not follow a vegetarian diet.

But how did I find myself here? I am a journalist and publicist, an accredited reporter who doesn't limit himself to working with newspapers and magazines, but rather one who conducts other parallel communication and information activities. Once I realised, at the age of 35, that there was no newspaper in Italy brave enough to invest seriously in environmental information, I gradually increased my interactions with the business world, reinventing myself as a web editor, copywriter, content manager and much more.

Among the many collaborations I have had in recent years, certainly one of the most interesting was with the Sustainable Meat Project (Carni Sostenibili), for whom I now take care of the editorial content of the website. Our initial collaboration was on the revision of The sustainability of meats and cured meats in Italy report.¹ This study, the first of its kind, examines what really lies behind the Italian livestock world and the so-called 'industrial' production of meat. I pondered this for a long time before accepting the Invitation to collaborate on this project, which I feared was only an attempt at greenwashing.

However, I then realised that it was far more useful to collaborate with producer associations, companies and industry than simply to retain the belief that all livestock farmers and meat processors were bad. When I did so, it was a revelation, even more so on a personal level than a professional one. I could see how false most of the information about the livestock sector is. The sector’s first mistake was to never tell its own side of the story, taking it for granted that everything could remain as it had been over recent decades.

Reading and studying the contents and dozens of sources of the study on the sustainability of Italian meats and cured meats - sources from which, among other things, I will frequently and willingly draw on for this book - along with many farm, factory and processing plants visits, was incredibly instructive for me. For example, I discovered that the meat supply chain in the food sector is the one generating the least amount of waste. I learned that, in addition to meat, several thousand products can be obtained from an animal and that the agricultural and livestock sectors are currently the ones investing most in technology and innovation. I discovered that the image of the stereotypical male chauvinist and semi-literate farmer that dominates the collective imagination was no longer representative. Instead, we have many motivated, competent and sensitive young people, often aged under thirty. Instead of tainting themselves and others with pseudo-philosophical ethical questions on nutrition, they wake up at 3:30 am to take care of their animals and to help produce quality food. I discovered the reality that these are the people behind livestock farming, which some are daring to try to tear down.

When exchanging with those - like farmers - who appear to some as 'Public Enemy No. 1', there can be many surprises. Not only do you see the passion, dedication and love behind their work, but you also see that an animal represents a life to a farmer. Behind the protection of the welfare and health of the animals they raise, clearly there is an income being produced. At the same time, however, nowadays there is also huge awareness of the expectations surrounding them. Farmers also ask themselves certain questions, without the need for animal rights activists to organise sit-ins outside their farms. This is simply because they too are human beings.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying that livestock farming has no issues, contradictions or distortions to correct; I'm just seeking to remind the reader - overwhelmed by an out-of-control animal rights activism propaganda - that not everything is as it appears in some YouTube videos or television broadcasts.

I think that - although we will discuss the environment, health, nutrition and so forth - the basic discourse of this book is purely philosophical in nature. In other words, while it's possible to explain in detail how technology, animal nature or legislation works, but if someone doesn't want to listen, there's little point in doing so. So, the questions to be addressed are: Are animals really like humans? Do I feel guilty about the idea of eating another living being? Am I sure that an animal, even if considered a sentient being, has the same feelings as I do or reasons like me? My answer to all of these is No. Furthermore, I don't think - as some say - that one cannot be an environmentalist or, in love and respect nature if one is not vegan.