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Sustainability is a hot topic for chefs around the globe
It’s a broad term that everyone interprets in their own way
with each MICHELIN Green Star restaurant having its own individual philosophy
These varied approaches to green gastronomy are evident in the responses we received from five Green Star chefs to the question: "Is meat sustainable?"
has significant negative impacts on our planet
greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity
Organic meat production can have an even greater impact
due to the greater land use and higher emissions from organically reared cows
“You can argue that a pig in your backyard
we will need even more land than is being used today; grass-fed cattle already occupy 26 per cent of the global land area
My conclusion is that less meat is the route to take.”
but only if it is produced as part of an integrated
eco-sustainable system and consumed responsibly
This means raising and looking after animals in ways that prioritise their wellbeing
Our meat production fully respects the land and is at the same time subject to responsible wildlife management
Our approach of non-intensive crop cultivation and livestock farming has much in common with methods employed by farms in years gone by – this traditional approach is also reflected in the limited quantities of vital animal protein on our menus.”
everything is sustainable if you handle it properly
Well-kept and slow-bred animals are sustainable
There are stretches of land in Germany that even need ungulates to thrive
as grazing sometimes helps to keep the ecosystem in balance
I find the idea of pinning climate change on animals reprehensible
We simply have to say goodbye to factory farming completely and eat correspondingly less meat at the same time
which doesn't mean that you can't eat meat or fish here
Diners can choose traditionally matured meats
poultry and seafood from the side dish menu
Just calling them a ‘side dish’ creates an awareness among our guests.”
Related Read – Is Veganism Sustainable?
“My answer is neither a no nor a resounding yes
To attribute such a significant part of climate change to bovine farming seems to me to be unfair
Extensive livestock farming can provide us with solutions rather than problems
it helps to control forest fires and to structure a more balanced
“What is not sustainable is the depletion of natural resources for the sole purpose of increasing livestock numbers to enrich a few people
local farms within the framework of family farms
meat is sustainable if we manage to stop human greed from taking over
and if the richest and most powerful parts of the world stop throwing away 30% of food produced.”
“Feeding our growing populations has in some parts of the world led to the industrialisation of food production
our delicate ecosystems have been compromised
Industrial methods are designed to override natural occurrences such as weather
insect population and disease in order to produce more crops
Yet the matter of nutrition has sadly on the most part been eschewed with large parts of the world still facing malnutrition
“Overriding natural systems weakens the infrastructure of our planet and increases problems such as soil erosion
mining and the release of petrochemicals into our water systems
The industrial meat industry plays an enormous part in these abusive farming systems
but is not solely to blame – all industrial production and excessive consumption plays a part
The natural predation system is one of the ways in which our planet regulates itself and it could be argued that it’s one of our inherent roles within nature
then a moderate diet of meat I think is both natural and sustainable.”
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\u201cYou can argue that a pig in your backyard
My conclusion is that less meat is the route to take.\u201d
Our approach of non-intensive crop cultivation and livestock farming has much in common with methods employed by farms in years gone by \u2013 this traditional approach is also reflected in the limited quantities of vital animal protein on our menus.\u201d
Just calling them a \u2018side dish\u2019 creates an awareness among our guests.\u201d
Related Read \u2013 Is Veganism Sustainable?
\u201cMy answer is neither a no nor a resounding yes
\u201cWhat is not sustainable is the depletion of natural resources for the sole purpose of increasing livestock numbers to enrich a few people
That\u2019s why our model is based on smaller
and if the richest and most powerful parts of the world stop throwing away 30% of food produced.\u201d
\u201cFeeding our growing populations has in some parts of the world led to the industrialisation of food production
\u201cOverriding natural systems weakens the infrastructure of our planet and increases problems such as soil erosion
but is not solely to blame \u2013 all industrial production and excessive consumption plays a part
The natural predation system is one of the ways in which our planet regulates itself and it could be argued that it\u2019s one of our inherent roles within nature
then a moderate diet of meat I think is both natural and sustainable.\u201d
Sign up to our newsletter to keep up-to-date with all things Michelin, from new restaurants, hotels and Guide launches to chef interviews, recipes and our latest Best-Of Guides.