AGRICULTURAL leaders have got it wrong when they say vegetarians and vegans don’t like farmers – we do.

However, the distinction is that we love our farmers who grow crops to feed us directly, rather than being environmentally wasteful by raising livestock or growing crops to feed farmed animals.

Much of Britain’s agricultural land is used in this inefficient way, but it would make more sense to use that land to feed us directly. In fact, Britain could move towards self-sufficiency if it wasn’t for our unsustainable meat and dairy-rich diets.

A meat-free Britain would also be kinder. We kill and consume nearly 900 million animals annually.

People ask where would all the animals go if we gave up meat?

Well, when did you ever see a field full of chickens? Hardly ever because almost all 800-plus million of them killed annually for meat are factory farmed – thousands crammed inside huge industrial sheds where they exist above their own excrement for their six-week lives.

Free help on cutting down your meat intake or going veggie is available by contacting Viva! on 0117 944 1000, email info@viva.org.uk or write to us at the address below.

Justin Kerswell, Campaigns Manager, Viva!, 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol, BS2 8QH.