> Why isn't meat a sustainable source of protein? In short, it is because an animal will always eat more food to be food, than would be needed to just feed peo

> Why isn't meat a sustainable source of protein? In short, it is because an animal will always eat more food to be food, than would be needed to just feed people on plants directly. > maybe it's industrial farming that we should get rid of "Free-range" farming practices are even more damaging and unsustainable than confined breeding operations, for the simple reason it takes more land and more resources. > Plants and animals are basically engines storing and converting the sun's energy into nutrients and natural ecosystems are very much sustainable. Not quite, plants are the nutrient producers - they synthesize solar energy into every amino acid essential to animals, into phytonutrients, etc. Animals, on the other hand, are nutrient consumers. I.e., animal derived foods are only nutritious because the animals ate plants. > calories in our food is at an all times high That's mostly from animal products and refined, packaged foods. > Whereas many fruits are very inefficient, consume a lot of water and are not sustainable at scale This is simply conjecture. Are you absolutely sure growing fruit is inefficient compared to modern animal agriculture? > start eating corn. Gladly. Starchy vegetables - complex carbohydrates - are the foods our ancestors ate for many years; they are regarded as a diet staple of several ancient societies.