Flexing our way to better health and climate

Flexing our way to better health and climate

A pig farm in provincial Thailand. Pigs are among the most intensively farmed animals on the planet.  (World Animal Protection photo)
A pig farm in provincial Thailand. Pigs are among the most intensively farmed animals on the planet.  (World Animal Protection photo)

A recent analysis by Climate Action Tracker shows that overall climate action by the the government is critically insufficient, and not yet consistent with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature limit. If Thailand is to take its climate change responsibilities seriously, the country must look at how it produces its food.

During the past four decades, Thailand's rapid economic growth has led to changes in the food consumption patterns of its people, threatening not only their health, but also the health of the planet and the environment. Consumption of beef, pork and poultry has been increasing steadily.

Frequently referred to as the "new coal", livestock farming is increasingly being recognised as one of the main drivers of climate change. Globally, the livestock sector accounts for at least 14.5% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is projected to account for up to 81% of the 1.5°C emissions budget by 2050, if production continues on the same trajectory, according to a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) report published in 2010.

In Thailand, the agriculture sector produced 20% of total emissions, including 5% from livestock, according to the Office of Natural Resources of Environmental Planning and Policy in 2020.

In the race for cheap animal protein, companies are eager to lower the cost of feed for animals. The increased production of animal feed in Thailand has led directly to the chronic air pollution plaguing the central and northern regions of Thailand. When maize agricultural waste is burned, the PM2.5 released affects millions of people every year, causing respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancers.

Poor animal welfare standards across the livestock industry are of concern, and could lead to disastrous impacts on the environment and public health. Over 500 million animals were farmed in Thailand in 2018, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

These animals suffer under cruel practices and living conditions which cause them physical and mental anguish. Factory farm operators intensively administer antibiotics to prevent animals from becoming ill. Factory farming is seen as a cause of overuse of antibiotics, which kills around 38,000 people in Thailand annually, according to research from 2015 and prepared by Niyada Kiatying-Angsulee, a researcher at Chulalongkorn University's Drug System Monitoring Mechanism Development Centre.

That said, we can't deny that most people enjoy consuming animal products, and this is even intertwined with our cultural practices and traditions. One starting point is to embrace a so-called "flexitarian diet": eat fewer animal products, shift to alternative sources of protein such as plant-based food (fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses, legumes, tofu and nuts) and only consume animal protein produced in a humane and sustainable manner.

The flexitarian trend is becoming popular among people who are concerned about climate change, their health, and animal welfare. Flexitarians only eat animal products occasionally, and when they do purchase or consume them, they like to know where the products came from.

Another positive consumer trend is that it is becoming easier to buy plant-based animal product substitutes to create lookalike and tasty dishes. Large global producers and restaurant chains are aware of this trend, shown by the increasing number of substitute products and dishes on the market.

By embracing plant-based animal protein substitutes and a flexitarian diet, consumers can help us move towards the concept of "net zero" carbon emissions more rapidly. Creating a net zero food system and economy shouldn't fall solely on the shoulders of consumers. The whole livestock supply chain also needs to act. The expansion of factory farming in Thailand must stop. Instead, we need to make sure there are policies in place to create a favourable environment to shift to a more humane, just and sustainable food system.

The government has a crucial role to play in developing policies. Measures such as developing national dietary guidelines that support reduced animal product consumption and public procurement policies to promote healthier eating in schools and hospitals would be a good starting point, and would help decrease our reliance on animal protein, and consequently the need for animal feed, reducing the burning of crops in the north of Thailand.

The finance sector has a key role to play too. Guidelines should be developed so financial institutions invest fairly and sustainably, and only in animal agriculture that avoids deforestation, bans the routine use of antibiotics and safeguards animal welfare.

The transition to sustainable proteins also offers an opportunity to create new jobs and opportunities. Look at Singapore, which has been dubbed the "Silicon Valley" of food tech and where more than 15 alternative protein companies have set up in the past two years alone.

There are already some promising entrants developing plant-based products in Thailand such as Let's Plant Meat, and NR Instant Produce, the fastest growing company on the market. With the value of the plant-based food market in Thailand forecast to reach 45 billion baht by 2024, and Siam Commercial Bank predicting that the percentage of Thais who will not eat meat will increase to 15% by 2025 from 8% in 2019, it is not too late for Thailand to expand its foothold in the market.

Isn't it surprising that solving global issues can start from your plate? If we all just eat fewer animal products, and a few more plants, we can all do our bit to push the transition to a net zero economy and healthier world for all.


Chokdee Smithkittipol is the Food System Campaign Manager for Thailand for World Animal Protection, an animal welfare organisation.

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