Can we use true costs accounting to solve the big fat problem?

1. Can we use true cost accounting
to solve the big fat problem?
Richard Young
The True Cost of American Food
Conference 2016
San Fransisco

2. What is the big fat problem?
• We have a insatiable demand for vegetable oils
• The production of these oils is linked to
environmental pollution, degradation, loss of
biodiversity, overuse of water and other non-
renewable resources
• We have switched from animal fats to vegetable
oils, but of itself this has not reduced the
incidence of CHD/CVD but has increased deaths
from cancer and arguably dementia

3. The problem with vegetable oils
Too much omega-6; too much environmental
degradation, cost taxpayers dear through crop
insurance
• Soybean oil - degradation and pollution. 80%
used in food, the rest biodiesel; soy protein
fuelling CAFOs and keeps price of oil low
• Canola oil largely responsible for the decline of
pollinators: pesticides and monocultures
• Corn oil, linked to rise of obesity
• Palm oil – horrendous environmental destruction
and pollution

4. But….
• Producing protein and fats (oils) from plants is
more productive than from animals
• There are not enough animal fats to replace
vegetable oils
• Livestock responsible for more GHG emissions
than crop production per pound of protein
• So, how do we resolve this?

5. True Cost Accounting in Food and
Agricultural policy-making
• 1. Recognise that we have been misled over
saturated fat by a massive conspiracy
orchestrated by the sugar and vegetable oils
industries
• 2. Carry out a comprehensive, unbiased analysis
of TCA impacts of different production systems:
GHGs, soil C & N loss, degradation, biodiversity,
non-renewable resource use, human health
impacts including fatty acid and micronutrient
profiles, social and cultural impacts
• 3. Monetise and calculate the best way forward

6. • Recognise that efficiency of cattle and pig
production should be assessed on protein AND
fat production
• End use of hormone growth promoters in cattle
• End use of the beta-agonists in pigs
• End all routine use of antibiotics
• Slaughter animals at older ages
• This would greatly increase supply of lard and
tallow

7. What might the future look like?
• Less land in corn, soy, canola and palm oil
production
• Corn, soy and canola made more sustainable -
with cover crops, more diverse rotations
including grass, forage legumes and grazing
livestock
• Processors only using palm oil from sustainable
producers
• Grass again the basis of cattle feed, instead of
grain – healthier fats plus carbon sequestration

8. Soil degradation: arable cropping leads to
approx. 60% soil carbon loss (FAO)