Tobias, how do you see it: why should animal welfare play an important role in the choice of food?
Food is the greatest basic need without which we cannot survive. At the same time, it is the reason for much suffering and injustice in the world. Around 65 million animals are killed every year for the production of meat and other animal-based foods. In general, I would say that most people consider animal welfare to be important. You can identify not only with the suffering of cats and dogs, but also with that of pigs, cows and chickens. You don’t want these animals to suffer for no reason. Mainly the taste of the meat and the eating habits make people forget the resulting suffering of the animals.
Humans have more compassion for pets and some wild animals. Why is that? How can we change empathy for chickens, sheep, goats, cows and pigs?
Maybe it was like this: Our ancestors felt like eating animals (for survival – and nutritional reasons) before they developed empathy for them. Today many have adopted that empathy, but at the same time we have also developed a culture of killing animals for food. Developing empathy for animals and feeling sorry for them is not easy, because the consequences are enormous: You would have to stop eating them. This is what many people don’t want to give up, so they often try not to develop empathy or try to suppress it.
What positive changes in eating habits and lifestyle have you observed in the last ten years?
Slowly, more and more people are opting for a vegan lifestyle, so I think we’re approaching a point where everything is getting easier. Reducing your own meat consumption is becoming increasingly popular, which is having a positive impact on animals as the demand for plant-based products increases.
Are there other factors that have contributed to changing the situation of livestock?
In addition to the arguments for reducing or avoiding animal products, we now have strong arguments for protecting the environment and improving human health. Investors and entrepreneurs have realized over the last few years that there is a lot of money to be made in the plant-based transition, and so we’re seeing more and more new startups try to enter the playing field. This in turn gives a new impetus for vegan (r)evolution.
You have covered so many topics in your blog, in lectures and workshops across Europe. What did you find out about eating habits?
Studies on changes in eating habits are becoming more important every day as we realize how harmful our eating habits are to the earth and our health. In the future we will no longer be able to bear the financial burden of the «prosperity diseases». People therefore have to learn to change their eating habits, which is perhaps one of the most difficult things. Our eating habits go back to our childhood and beyond: to our ancestors, the cave dwellers. The love for meat is something ancient. We cannot approach it with rational and ethical arguments alone. We need alternatives that taste just as good and satisfy cravings for animal products. For this reason, we need to improve the herbal product offering.
What do you think are the most effective ways to promote animal-friendly nutrition?
For me, this boils down to being aware of the suffering of others and understanding the importance of it. It is important that we become aware of the suffering of others and understand the importance of this awareness. We are empathetic when we genuinely try to avoid the suffering of others. The more alternatives there are to products made with animal suffering, the easier it becomes to act consciously.
Is it still possible to eat meat, milk and/or eggs without harming an animal?
In general, it is difficult to consume animal products without contributing to animal suffering. It may be possible to eat some produce, such as eggs from the chickens in your backyard, but usually these things aren’t adaptable to the overall condition. The easiest way to prevent animal suffering is to stop consuming animal products.
Do you think a plant-based diet can become the norm?
I have concerns that it will become the norm. A norm would mean that it becomes a standardized option. Let’s say you’re going to an event or you’re eating on the train or plane where you can’t control what you want to eat. The waiter will automatically bring you the vegetable dish. It would also mean that restaurant menus would feature more vegan dishes than omnivore dishes. I believe that this evolution will be unstoppable when we reach a certain point. Then it will be much easier to understand animal rights thought and empathy for animals.
What do you think of the flexitarian approach?
If everyone were flexitarian today, a vegan world would not be far off. Unfortunately, we are still swimming against the tide. If at some point there will be a certain number of «reducers», the system will automatically tip over: price structures, subsidies and tariffs will change. Our arguments will have a greater impact as eating vegan becomes easier and easier.
What else would you like to tell our readers?
In a way, farm animal suffering is a problem that is very easy to solve. We have very concrete solutions. Solutions that positively affect other problems (such as famine, environmental degradation, energy use, human health, etc.). Of course it will take time, but I have no doubts about it. At some point, the idea of eating animals will seem completely absurd.