Countryfile returned to BBC One this evening and those watching at home tuned in to see Tom Heap on a quest to find out what the UK’s beef industry had to do in order to survive following a decrease in profit last year. From discussing vegan and vegetarian alternatives, to the prices beef farmers were being paid for their produce, the presenter also looked into reports and health headlines. But some viewers questioned whether all sides to the argument were looked into and discussed during the segment and took to Twitter with their thoughts, suggesting more experts needed to be involved in the debate.
One viewer said: “#Countryfile talking about huge losses in the beef industry, talking about how TV advertisements are fuelling it. yet same show now interviewing militant vegan, and @BBC1 is showing another anti-meat how tomorrow. why isn’t it trying a little bit to be balanced? In GB lower co2.”
Someone else commented: “#Countryfile yet again just one view??”
“Surprised how biased Countyfile is tonight! They are pretending to be impartial. Nothing wrong with eating less meat. Healthier, cheaper & environment friendly. Fact #Countryfile,” a third suggested.
While one tweet read: “Bloody @BBC banging on about the #ClimateHoax Again. It’s all BullShit. #Countryfile.”
“#Countryfile annoyed Tom is not asking some real scientists.. but then he has already made his mind up seemingly!!” One viewer claimed.
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“We were once known as a nation of roast beef lovers..but that may be changing,” Ellie Harrison commented. “And at what cost to UK farmers – Tom’s been finding out.”
“How and what we farm feeds into all aspects of life, from the health and wealth of our nation to our global environment and what we, as consumers choose to eat can have an immediate impact on farmers’ livelihoods,” Tom introduced in a voiceover.
The presenter explained how it has “been a pretty tough year for our beef farmers” in the UK and then went onto discuss the “health fears to environmental concerns” sweeping the nation and said red meat was currently suffering a “major PR problem”.
Countryfile then played clips from a variety of BBC News segments discussing scientists warning of food production needing to become more sustainable in order to combat climate change, as well as revealing some health headlines which suggest red meat can increase the risk of certain cancers.
Those watching at home also learnt how the sale of beef burgers had fallen by nearly five percent, and steaks by 6.5 percent, but while total beef sales are only slightly down, Tom said “the real problem or farmers is what they’re being paid at the farm gate”.
Joining Tom was to discuss how her farm has been impacted was fifth generation cattle farmer Jilly Greed and she wasted no time in explaining the struggle she has endured in the last year.
“I must say your stock is looking fantastic, but your business isn’t in such good fettle. Tell me about that,” Tom asked.
“No, we’re seeing a shortfall of about 16 percent and if we take Esther here and her calf, there’s a £185 loss in margin,” she revealed.
“And if you multiply that £185 across your business, what difference is that in income say, this year to last?” The presenter enquired.
“We’ve seen a shortfall of about £18,000 in our turnover, like-for-like, just with the fall in beef price. And it’s unsustainable, we’re working our socks off to make it sustainable,” she stated.
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According to NFU, 2019 via Countryfile, it has been estimated in the last 12 months, UK beef farmers have lost £170 million.
Tom then went to speak to John Davies, the president of NFU Cymru to discuss the dire situation cattle farmers are finding themselves in.
A clip from a supermarket’s television advert was played encouraging shoppers to switch their meat choice to vegan and this led into Tom to explore what alternative meat free options consumers were being tempted to try and buy.
After briefly discussing two health reports, one from Cancer Research UK and then anther from the UN, Tom moved onto speak to vegan and academic researcher Joseph Poore from Oxford University about meats impact on global warming and climate change.
After writing a paper warning about the environmental impact the meat industry was having globally, Joseph told Tom: “The most important things are the methane that cows produce in their digestive systems that comes up.
“Second thing is manure. Cow’s manure creates both methane and nitrous oxide, both of which are very powerful green house omissions.
“Thirdly, if you look globally, beef and cows are one of the biggest drivers of forest loss and deforestation. And when you clear a forest, that releases carbon that was stored in those trees.”
“Just to interrupt -t that both for their grazing themselves and also for fee that is given to them alter?” Tom clarified and Joseph said: “Exactly.”
But what Tom did make sure was clear, was how the UK farmed beef “very differently” to other big beef-producing nations like Brazil where the “system is less environmentally sustainable”.
Countryfile airs Sundays on BBC One.
