Eating animal or plant-based: Which heats up the climate more?

Eating animal or plant-based - which is better for the climate? And: Is a purely plant-based diet good for the climate?

These questions were discussed at the FoodTalk on June 29, 2022 at the Natural History Museum Basel around 80 interested participants with the following four experts:

• Anita Frehner, research assistant Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL)
• Gilbert Engelhard, Co-management Restaurant Zum Goldenen Fass
• Lukas Kilcher, Manager Ebenrain Center for Agriculture, Nature and Nutrition
• Raffael Jenzer, Product Quality & Development Manager Jenzer Fleisch + Feinkost AG

How to overcome the climate crisis is the subject of heated debate around the world. Our diet plays an important role in this issue. We have therefore shed light on meat and vegetable production, the global trade in them and the local food supply from various perspectives. 

What is the problem?
The discussion showed that this question cannot be answered one-dimensionally - Lukas Kilcher explains using the example of the cow: "The cow is responsible for around 70% of greenhouse gases in Swiss agriculture. At the same time, the cow is also part of a carbon cycle and stimulates grass growth when it bites into the grass, some of the greenhouse gases are fixed in its digestion and animal manure is also valuable for healthy soils." Furthermore, according to Raphael Jenzer, no one is helped if, for example, tens of thousands of tons of soup chickens end up in biogas plants instead of on people's plates. In fact, the problem here is that cutting up the chicken - and therefore the soup chicken - is too expensive. At the end of the discussion, Gilbert Engelhard concludes: "Ultimately, you have to take a holistic approach to the problem and consider the entire cycle." 

How great is Switzerland's potential in terms of plant cultivation?
From Anita Frehner's point of view, the potential is far from exhausted: "People also hide a little behind the statement that 60% is green space and that no vegetables, cereals or fruit can be grown there. But there is still plenty of scope." It is also the case that many direct payments (around 18%) flow into animal production.

Agricultural policy could also set the course for a more diverse agriculture. Rationalization has simplified many things, but diversity has been lost in the process. Due to the challenges associated with the climate crisis, we need to diversify and make diversity possible again, says Lukas Kilcher. We need to comb through and revise the entire state support mechanisms with regard to the climate!

The FoodTalk is jointly organized by Crowd Containerthe Ebenrain Center for Agriculture, Nature and Nutritionthe Cooperative Food Network Basel - "Field to table", "Enjoyment from town and country"the IG Nutrition Forumthe Impact Hub Baselthe Market Hall Basel, Slow Food Basel and the Zero Waste Innovation Lab.

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