Animals farmed: meat taxes, death in farming and anti-climate lobbying

Welcome to our monthly roundup of the biggest issues in farming and food production, with must-read reports from around the webAs UN climate talks take place in Glasgow, the role of cows and other farm animals in human-induced climate emissions - and what can be done about it - has been in the spotlight. The world's biggest meat and dairy companies are being "given a free pass by governments" over the lack of clear targets to reduce climate emissions, say campaigners, who have published a new ranking of the worst offenders.Cutting methane is the biggest opportunity to slow global heating between now and 2040, say experts, who lament that "no country has a real target to reduce its livestock-related emissions or meat consumption".Brazil and Argentina, two of the biggest producers of beef products and animal feed crops in the world, are reported to have argued strongly against UN recommendations that reducing meat consumption is necessary to cut greenhouse gas emissions.The net zero climate pledges made this year by the world's largest meat company, JBS, have been critiqued as an attempt to "avoid scrutiny from shareholders and investors" in a new report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Continue reading...