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Veganuary vs Regenuary

  • by JW

“Asking shoppers to commit to sourcing food more responsibly – considering the locality and seasonality of produce, and buying meat farmed using regenerative agriculture.”

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This time last year, this column was looking at what has become an annual ‘detox’ and consideration of what we eat:

Veganuary: the issues – Vision Group for Sidmouth

One of the issues has been the impact of producing alternatives to meat – including avocados:

Avocados vs Monarch Butterflies – Vision Group for Sidmouth

And there are several other questions to be asked:

What are the impacts of plant-based meat alternatives? – Vision Group for Sidmouth

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Emma Henderson of the Independent has been asking a few questions over the years:

Flexitarianism: Is eating less meat really better for us and the environment? | The Independent | The Independent

Why veganism isn’t as environmentally friendly as you might think | The Independent | The Independent

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And in their sister paper over the weekend, Josh Barrie looks at an alternative to this month’s Veganuary:

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Regenuary: the alternative to Veganuary wants you to only eat meat from sustainable sources instead

The idea behind Regenuary is not to champion a restrictive, plant-based diet, but to ask shoppers to commit to sourcing food more responsibly

Most people will have heard of Veganuary by now – the campaign to persuade people still stuffed with turkey to eat only plant-based food in January.

But an alternative, lesser-known strategy known as Regenuary is building ample traction, too. Founders The Ethical Butcher received more than a million clicks on a social media post about the idea last year, and this year a substantial movement has emerged, backed by farmers, chefs and food suppliers, who see animal consumption as part of a sustainable future.

The idea behind Regenuary is not to champion a restrictive, plant-based diet, but to ask shoppers to commit to sourcing food more responsibly – considering the locality and seasonality of produce, and buying meat farmed using regenerative agriculture, a method that works with nature to help soil retain carbon emissions.

Glen Burrows, co-founder of The Ethical Butcher, is the man bringing modern farming into the mainstream, and his posts on New Year’s Day have been shared and liked by thousands. Now, a week in, he says that momentum is building: “Regenuary has had a lot of attention on social media. Instagram has really picked up…

Regenuary: the alternative to Veganuary wants you to only eat meat from sustainable sources instead

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Here’s the Ethical Butcher himself:

The Ethical Butcher | Facebook

The Ethical Butcher – 100% Grass Fed & Organic Meat Delivery

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And here’s a response:

Anti-Veganuary Campaign Regenuary Hijacked | Plant Based News

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Meanwhile, from Redwood’s Farm, Tiverton:

How ‘ethical’ poultry producers can achieve £5.50/kg – Farmers Weekly

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And finally from Partridge Farm Hill, Sidbury:

The debate over meat… and ethical farming in Sidbury – Vision Group for Sidmouth