Plant-Based Food
1. This Council recognises the importance of accessing a whole-food plant-based diet [1, 2] and the effect dietary choices can have on individual carbon footprints.
2. This Council recognises the importance of a balanced diet as well as individual choice and catering for all dietary requirements. Increasing awareness of dietary choices and resulting impact to individual carbon footprint can allow individuals to make more informed choices.
3. The special report on climate change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change - and includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption. [3]
4. The National Food Strategy recommended cutting meat consumption by 30% in a decade. [4]
5. When we talk about emissions, we usually think of carbon dioxide (CO2). But livestock's emissions also include methane, which is up to 34 times more damaging to the environment over 100 years than CO2, according to the UN. [5]
6. Beef produces the most greenhouse gas emissions, which include methane. A global average of 110lb (50kg) of greenhouse gases is released per 3.5oz of protein. Lamb has the next highest environmental footprint but these emissions are 50% less than beef. Cattle produce more methane than poultry, which rely more on imported feed than cows, generating a carbon footprint offshore, says Professor Margaret Gill. [6]
7. The plant-based food market is booming. With one-third of UK consumers choosing to actively reduce their meat consumption, the demand for plant-based innovation is growing at a rapid pace. [7]
8. Plant-based food contributes to Exeter City Council corporate priorities, including our Net Zero 2030 target through to personal wellbeing.
Council asks Executive to:
1. Ensure that by the Exeter City Council Annual Council in May 2023, food provided at all internal Council catered events and meetings, including those hosted by the Mayoralty, be plant-based.
2. Ensure that all Council run external sites including Leisure Centres, cafes and restaurants have plant-based options available as part of their regular catering offer and advertised clearly on their menu.
3. Set up a cross-party Task and Finish Working Group, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, of officers, elected Members including other relevant Portfolio Holders and invited experts to promote and embed these principles in Exeter City Council’s food provision where practicable.
References
[1] The term “whole” in whole foods plant based diet describes foods that are minimally processed. This includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
[2] The term “plant-based” refers to vegetables, grains, pulses, or other foods derived from plants, rather than animal products.
[3] IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/ [4] National Food Strategy: An Independent Review for Government. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https:// www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/the-report/
[5] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Methane Management: The Challenge. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://unece.org/challenge
[6] BBC Climate change: Do I need to stop eating meat? Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/explainers-59232599
[7] Vegan Society. A third of shoppers report they are cutting down on meat or ditching it completely in a response to the cost-of-living crisis. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.vegansociety.com/news/news/third-shoppers- report-reducing-or-ditching-meat
Minutes:
Councillor Wood, seconded by Councillor Parkhouse, moved a Notice of Motion in the following terms:-
Plant-Based Food
1. This Council recognises the importance of accessing a whole-food plant-based diet [1, 2] and the effect dietary choices can have on individual carbon footprints.
2. This Council recognises the importance of a balanced diet as well as individual choice and catering for all dietary requirements. Increasing awareness of dietary choices and resulting impact to individual carbon footprint can allow individuals to make more informed choices.
3. The special report on climate change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change - and includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption. [3]
4. The National Food Strategy recommended cutting meat consumption by 30% in a decade. [4]
5. When we talk about emissions, we usually think of carbon dioxide (CO2). But livestock's emissions also include methane, which is up to 34 times more damaging to the environment over 100 years than CO2, according to the UN. [5]
6. Beef produces the most greenhouse gas emissions, which include methane. A global average of 110lb (50kg) of greenhouse gases is released per 3.5oz of protein. Lamb has the next highest environmental footprint but these emissions are 50% less than beef. Cattle produce more methane than poultry, which rely more on imported feed than cows, generating a carbon footprint offshore, says Professor Margaret Gill. [6]
7. The plant-based food market is booming. With one-third of UK consumers choosing to actively reduce their meat consumption, the demand for plant-based innovation is growing at a rapid pace. [7]
8. Plant-based food contributes to Exeter City Council corporate priorities, including our Net Zero 2030 target through to personal wellbeing.
Council asks Executive to:
1. Ensure that by the Exeter City Council Annual Council in May 2023, food provided at catered internal Council meetings will be plant-based and that it will showcase plant based foods at catered events.
2. Ensure that all Council run external sites including Leisure Centres, cafes and restaurants have plant-based options available as part of their regular catering offer and advertised clearly on their menu.
3. Set up a cross-party Task and Finish Working Group, chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, of officers, elected Members including other relevant Portfolio Holders and invited experts to promote and embed these principles in Exeter City Council’s food provision where practicable.
References
[1] The term “whole” in whole foods plant based diet describes foods that are minimally processed. This includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
[2] The term “plant-based” refers to vegetables, grains, pulses, or other foods derived from plants, rather than animal products.
[3] IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/ [4] National Food Strategy: An Independent Review for Government. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https:// www.nationalfoodstrategy.org/the-report/
[5] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Methane Management: The Challenge. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://unece.org/challenge
[6] BBC Climate change: Do I need to stop eating meat? Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/explainers-59232599
[7] Vegan Society. A third of shoppers report they are cutting down on meat or ditching it completely in a response to the cost-of-living crisis. Accessed on 24th November 2022: https://www.vegansociety.com/news/news/third-shoppers- report-reducing-or-ditching-meat.
In presenting his motion, Councillor Wood made the following points:-
· the purpose of the Motion was to make people aware of the impact on the Climate Change crisis of the choices they make in deciding what to eat;
· there was a shared understanding in society that there should be less consumption of meat and there was a significant amount of information on the environmental and health benefits of choosing plant based foods;
· with greater awareness of the crisis, people ask how they can help and one action would be to eat plant based foods;
· the Motion did not seek to prevent the consumption of meat, but rather to encourage the eating of meat on fewer days of the week;
· farmers and food producers also faced challenges in combatting Climate Change and they could be supported by the public who could choose locally sourced quality food which benefitted the local economy; and
· the Council was asked to play a role in raising awareness of plant based foods and to support the changes society needs to make to protect the planet.
Councillor Parkhouse, in seconding the Motion, made the following points:-
· decisions made every day had an impact on Climate Change and the future of the planet;
· the Council had enacted bold and ambitious polices to combat Climate Change in line with its declaration of a Climate Emergency in 2019 and the target of Net Zero 2030;
· science had made it clear that society needed to consume less meat;
· the impact on society of Climate Change would be greater than that of the recent Covid Pandemic;
· the Motion did not seek to ask people to become Vegan or Vegetarians, but to make the choice of cutting down on meat consumption; and
· there were significant health benefits in eating more plant based foods at every life stage.
During the discussion the following points were made:-
· whilst broadly supporting the measures to achieve Net Zero 2030, there were unintended consequences of promoting plant based foods. If the Motion was taken to its logical conclusion of greatly reducing meat consumption there would be an economic impact on businesses such as restaurants which were significantly meat based, on charities as well as the Council. Both the Livestock Centre and the Famers Market could see a reduction in income and there may be a reduced demand for the use of the Guildhall for weddings if there was a restriction on caterers’ menus. A further Council revenue stream could also be lost if licences were no longer issued to mobile catering businesses which were largely meat based;
· the Council should seek to raise awareness of this issue, recognising that it was a matter of choice. Although, in some cases, it was not medically advisable to eat plant based food, it would still be beneficial to showcase plant based foods at external events;
· restaurants offering plant based foods would be more attractive to groups who counted Vegans or Vegetarians in their numbers;
· Members were encouraged to participate in Vegan January to help promote understanding of this issue;
· at recent Licensing Sub Committee meetings there had been applications from mobile catering businesses seeking licences and offering a choice of menu to include non-meat and vegan options. One application had not considered a vegan option and had still been granted a licence;
· it was important that many local meat producing outlets such as butchers and Darts Farm use quality local produce and know the source of the meat they sell;
· the proposed Task and Finish Group should also examine wider procurement issues not just the food offer at internal and Council supported events;
· an entire plant based approach could feed the whole of the world’s population;
· a more plant based diet could help reduce allergies, with dairy products one of the main causes of allergies in the UK;
· how would the proposal in not offering the choice of alternatives to plant based food at internal Council meetings be progressed?; and
· the welfare of animals in food production, notably pigs and chickens, should also be considered and bad farming practices eliminated.
Councillor Wood, in concluding, stated that the Motion was not seeking huge changes in people’s behaviour as, ultimately, consumers and the market itself would be the main determinant. Whilst options would be available, the Motion was predicated on showcasing and promoting plant based food. The Task and Finish Working Group would be examining procurement issues and would also focus on the promotion of, and messaging around, plant based food.
Councillor Wood commended the Motion to Council.
The Notice of Motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.