Recommendation 25

The questions of whether less meat and dairy should be produced in this country, and whether Britons should eat less meat and dairy, are emotive and personal. They cut to the core of our cultures and our identities and have the potential to be polarising. We heard a range of strong opinions. Many argued that people living in the UK should aim to cut down the amount of meat and dairy they consume, and the Climate Change Committee is clear in its advice that across the country meat and dairy consumption should reduce by 20% by 2030 and by 35% by 2050 in order to achieve the Government’s net zero target. Others, however, pointed to the ecological benefits of grazing livestock. We are keenly aware that many people’s livelihoods in this country depend on livestock farming. That is why we also recommend supporting those farmers who wish to transition to new business practices where necessary and ensuring that their options for producing food in an environmentally sustainable way are commercially viable and culturally considerate.