Eat kangaroo to save the planet
2GB (Sydney), Afternoons, 01/10/2008 01:38pm
Compere Chris Smith says the Garnaut report claims we could all help save the planet by eating kangaroo meat instead of beef and lamb. He interviews Dr Mark Diesendorf, Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW, who says that kangaroo only has a small role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He says there is too little meat available on kangaroos to totally replace Australian beef and lamb production, which he admits are big greenhouse gas emitters through methane and fertilisers. He says kangaroos’ feet don’t damage the ground, as do those of sheep and cattle.
Smith interviews David Thomason, Meat & Livestock Australia, who says that the farming of wild kangaroos could be a challenge, with major issues of fencing and potentially destructive behaviour. He says you can get 10 times more edible meat from a cow than a kangaroo.
Diesendorf says kangaroos have adapted to the Australian environment and the current system of licensed hunters should be expanded in preference to farming.
Interviewee: Dr Mark Diesendorf, Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW; David Thomason, Meat & Livestock Australia.
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