.George Monbiot's highly-charged response to my book is a mother lode of dangerous modern myths about food & poverty. I’ll be trying to do my bit to repair the damage he’s causing soon. The great commenters on my blog have already started, below here: chrissmaje.com/2023/10/the-wh…

This is an excellent response to George Monbiot 's claims in his screed against Chris Smaje. In addition to misreading the lit he uses, he ends up supporting more industrial ag and, perversely, likely more enviro damage gardenearth.substack.com/p/the-columnis…

Oh dear, seems George is less forthcoming with his 'data' than he often pretends. We've known this to be the case for a long time, but it's been more covert, with some pretty impressive glittery smoke &gilded mirrors, at least it's now in the open!

Chris Smaje Definitely, although there is one misconception that may need addressing - George's irrational dislike of small farms isn't new, and has been at odds with other elements of his writing for over a decade. His treatment of Welsh farmers both in Feral&articles, and in-person,

This is beyond hilarious. George Monbiot is calling for the literal eradication of **farms** based on the fact that lab food is more "sustainable" and his data is drawn from...non peer reviewed internal corporate documents 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Farmers trust for the greater good. They give up data (unaware of its worth) based on being given a bigger crumb at the table of promised crumbs. Jam for tomorrow they get told, but the jam never comes. Meanwhile payment changes based on free data meaning the crumb gets smaller

Interesting that when Red Tractor CEO interviewed, he misrepresented the nature of the global market, stating that "almost all industries" have had to move to a "more environmental&sustainable approach" - they haven't, they've just offshored the worst bits! #DoubleStandards

At last, George Monbiot has given his source for his 16.7kWh/kg bacterial protein claim. I think it’s probably now safe to say that his figure is incorrect 1/12

George has stressed in his recent writing the importance of numbers. I agree the ones discussed here are important. So George Monbiot will you retract your 16.7kWh/kg claim, or show what I’ve got wrong here? 15/16

Another dispute with George Monbiot: he says it’s ‘ludicrous’ to think cheap food & hunger are related Others are more nuanced: “In some ways it’s true. Food is too cheap to provide sufficient income for small farmers, among whom number many of the world’s hungriest” G.Monbiot

They don't even try to hide the agenda any more 😔 "This needs to change" - No, it really doesn't

Now prominent 'rewilders' are wolf-whistleing towards promoting imported foods (incl from places with far lower environmental, safety, welfare & employment standards) 🙄 Oh, but they still don't understand why they're not trusted or offered an elevated seat at the farming table!

Kind of puts cow burps into perspective doesn't it?! Oh no, I forget, we need to stop growing food so that we can use 100% of land as a base for carbon trading so we can greenwash away our oil-soaked sins... and eat... erm... fluff. Silly me! amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.thegua…