More and more farmers are recognizing that plant-based products are the future. We hope farmers here in Upstate NY are looking at ways to transition away from animal agriculture. Perhaps NY State can work on incentives and plans to help small businesses seize this opportunity to engage with an exponentially growing market.

LiveKindly.co reports:

Speaking at the Australia Lot Feeder Association’s Beef Ex 2018, Richard Fowler, a dairy farmer from New Zealand, stated that the livestock industry should listen to what consumers want, instead of trying to rally against them and fight the demand for plant-based foods.
“If people want more of a plant-based diet, shouldn’t we see that as more of an opportunity than a threat?” he asked. “This there for us to just jump on board and slot some products onto the market. I think if we did that we would diffuse the situation.” He added, “It’s not our job to try and convince a vegan to eat meat.”
Fowler isn’t alone in thinking this way; Hamish and Kate Dunlop, sheep and beef farmers from New Zealand, believe that plant protein is the future. They are the founders of the New Zealand Quinoa Company and in their region of Taranaki, they are the first-ever to cultivate the pseudograin commercially.
“Like most farmers, we have heard all the stories on the problems the world faces,” said Kate. “We want to be part of the future, help solve some of those issues.”

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#veganisthefuture #seizetheopportunity #ditchdairy