Move away from meat production 'could boost profitability'

BRITISH livestock farmers could be more profitable if they shift towards providing environmental benefits such as creating wildlife habitat, analysis suggests.

- ANDREW MATTHEWS

Analysis by environmental think tank Green Alliance suggests that while the amount of meat people are eating has dropped over the past 20 years, production has not followed suit - yet livestock farmers often struggle to be profitable.

The assessment suggests that reducing livestock numbers could help create more space and time for farmers to tap into more lucrative income streams on their land, such as payments for peatland restoration or creating wildlife habitat, while also reducing the climate impact of meat production.