Last time I looked – I’m *sure* I was still a member of a species that was omnivorous.

Yes, of course I’ve been a vegetarian, suppling my protein needs via soya, but I enjoy meat and experience no sense of self-loathing having feasted greedily on a carcass.

And burped.

Still, re: biofuels. Don’t they emit CO2? I still find it odd that solutions that emit carbon are seen as solutions.

Isn’t the … well, isn’t the solution one that stops the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere until our blue marble can stabilise and breath again?

It should be obvious that energy costs are responsible for high food costs since even now farmers are making only $89,000 per year. And biofuels have lowered the price of energy.

You are correct that there is plenty more land for biofuels if the developed world would just stop wiping out agriculture in the developing world with subsidies. The developing world needs agriculture for economic development to afford food and other goods, something both biofuels and food can provide. We don’t need them begging for subsidized food from countries like the US which has surplus land for either export or biofuels. Why should farm countries like the US keep losing wealth to the Arabs because countries like India can’t stop populating?

You were also right about the movement to meat eating the number one cause of greenhouse gases. Flesh eating is digusting. Feed people, not animals!

Thanks for the oar Pem. I think the buying-power of the UK supermarkets perhaps warrants a post all of it’s own as it is far too deep a situation to explore here. My own view, in short, is that the large UK supermarkets have done a tremendous service to the population in terms of providing low cost and quality food. Compared to many places in the world UK shoppers seem to be getting a pretty good deal.

However, large supermarket chains do seem to have a disproportionate amount of market power, impacting consumer choice and driving many suppliers right up against the wall. I understand that there are constant discussions about regulating the supermarkets, although on balance it is still thought that consumers would ultimately suffer. UK grocery market competition is intense – usually a good thing for the consumer.

I’m generally wary of regulation in this area since it seems to me that when governments interfere and regulate markets, they do it badly.

@Levi

Knowing nothing about bison, and having never tried one I would have no idea. I’d be interested to know more, although I would hate to say goodbye to cows.

@George

Exactly!

mutter