DEAR SIR: One of my vices in recent years has become following Twitter. While you can come across a lot of nonsense on it, it gives an insight into how other people do things and see the world.

January marks “veganuary”, a month-long campaign by the vegan movement to push their agenda and they do a lot of that pushing on social media. I think it is concerning that veganism has been recognised as a philosophical movement by the courts in the UK last week, making it akin to a religion.

I believe it is of considerable concern that there are significant commercial interests pushing the vegan agenda

I think recognising a dietary choice in the same light as a religion is a bridge too far, but I try to be open-minded and live and let live as much as I can.

However, I believe it is of considerable concern that there are significant commercial interests pushing the vegan agenda.

I understand that Channel 4 has made a seven-figure investment (that’s at least £1m) in a vegan food company and that a part of that deal involved a substantial level of advertising on Channel 4.

This issue of veganism appears to be a first world problem

It does not appear to be uncommon for many of the vegan cheerleaders to have significant investments in vegan food-producing companies. Holding such commercial interests and professing to be a religion would not appear to be compatible to me.

This issue of veganism appears to be a first world problem where its proponents want to bring people to a third world diet, but a highly processed third world diet at that and at the same time producing healthy profits for the massive corporations propagating this so-called philosophy.

We are too complacent in this country about the sustainability of our livestock sector

Veganism and the diversion of blame from the fossil fuel industries to livestock are two of the greatest threats to livestock farming. I think the livestock industry needs to wake up and take the fight to these propaganda machines. We are too complacent in this country about the sustainability of our livestock sector. It is not good enough to say that producing milk and meat from grass makes it sustainable.

The lack of morale in beef farming in recent months certainly suggests it is not economically sustainable. The fact that dairy farming is profitable does not equate to it being environmentally sustainable.

It will require an equally sophisticated response

We are dealing with highly sophisticated propaganda machines, with substantial resources behind them. Rehashing the same old mantras about grass and genetics in making our livestock farming sustainable just won’t cut anymore.

It will require an equally sophisticated response. This requires a united approach from farmers and processors, at home and across Europe. We face a common threat from this propaganda. There is potential for The Agricultural Trust to take the lead. Just some food for thought as we face into a month of vegan propaganda.

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