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Vegetarians and vegans now account for almost 10% of the Canadian population, and their increased presence is forcing the food and meat industries to consider new approaches.
According to Dalhousie University, 2.3 million vegetarians in Canada, compared with 900,000 15 years ago. Another 850,000 people consider themselves vegan. These two figures represent 9.4%. 100% of the Canadian population.
Sylvain Charlebois, Professor of Food Distribution and Food Policy in Dalhousie, says that the most "troubling" fact for meat producers is that the majority of Canadian vegetarians and vegans believe that this means that increases in the number of Vegetarians will probably only increase when today's vegetarians will become a larger part of society.
"They will probably raise their children as they are. Charlebois says that there are many reasons why more and more people are choosing not to eat meat, one of the most common problems being animal welfare. According to him, people who have spent little time in the farms themselves see scenes of animal abuse.
Other factors cited by Charlebois include rising prices for beef and other meats, environmental concerns and
"I do not remember the last time I read a study suggesting that we should eat more meat, "he said. "The scientific evidence seems encouraging enough to encourage people to eat more vegetable protein."
Vegetable proteins, such as lentils and chickpeas, are often eaten by people who cut meat off their diet and
Increasingly, meatless restaurants are sprinkling the Canadian culinary landscape to meet the needs of vegans and people seeking to reduce their meat consumption.
Even larger chains that boast of their meat are entering the alternative protein game. A & W hamburger giant has recently introduced its "Beyond Meat Burger", which includes a pea-based cake, rice and other vegetable ingredients.
While it may be advantageous to give up meat, Mr. Charlebois economics as people progress toward vegetarianism and veganism – especially given the large agricultural sector of Canada. country. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian poultry, egg and red meat industries produced $ 23.4 billion worth of merchandise in 2017.
Charlebois says his encounters with cattle and beef farmers Other meat producers give him the impression of vegetarianism as a fad or even an enemy, as opposed to a new reality of Canadian eating habits.
"I'm not entirely sure that the industry appreciates what's going on," he said.
According to Charlebois, meat producers should "befriend the enemy," as major automakers began to manufacture electric vehicles instead of fighting their growth.
To do this, Mr. Charlebois suggests that meat producers start with other sources of protein such as chickpeas and lentils.
"You are essentially offering Canadians a healthy solution, and it will cost them less," he said. 2] Geographically, the Dalhousie study found that British Columbia and Ontario had the highest proportions of vegetarians and vegans in Canada, with these diets less common in the Prairies and Atlantic Canada.
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