The biggest conservation charity in Europe, the National Trust, wants to go 50% plant-based to help it reach net-zero by 2030.
Founded in 1895, the historic charity now has more than 500 historic properties, coastal areas and green spaces in the UK, including nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Millions of visitors head to these sites each year, many of whom stop at one of their 280 cafés.
In recent years, the trust has been taking steps towards becoming more sustainable. This includes reducing single-use plastic, tackling water usage, adopting peat-free gardening and restoring vast areas of woodland.
Now, the trust is welcoming a proposal to make the menus at its cafés and other catering outlets 50% plant-based.
Will the National Trust’s menu become 50% plant-based?
Under the trust’s governance process, if a member proposes a resolution for discussion and that resolution is supported by enough members, it goes forward to all National Trust members for a vote at the AGM.
Menus at National Trust cafés and catering sites are already estimated to be 40% plant-based. But now, the trust has proposed a move to make even more of its food vegan-friendly.
The National Trust’s 5.37 million members, whose annual fee goes towards the conservation of their sites, can vote online until 25th October 2024. The matter will then be decided at the National Trust’s AGM on 2nd November.
Meat and dairy farmers criticise the National Trust
Unsurprisingly, the new proposal has drawn criticism from the farming community, many of whom rent land from the trust.
TV and social media personality Gareth Wyn Jones, who runs a farm in North Wales, described the proposal as “absolutely ridiculous from a massive landowner with so many livestock farming families living off these farms.”
Negative criticism also occurred in recent months, with the National Trust accused of ‘wokery’ after it revealed that its scones were, in fact, vegan-friendly and had been for some time.
The trust explained that it had been replacing dairy butter with a vegetable spread in its scones’ recipe ‘for some time’. This was done to cater for those with allergies as well as eco-conscious visitors who follow a plant-based diet.
Vote for plant-based menus at the National Trust
In a statement sent to Vegan Food & Living, a spokesperson for the National Trust commented: “We’re clear that we’re supporting this resolution because we want to increase the options available to members and visitors. It’s important that we design our offer to cater for people with different dietary needs and preferences.
“We already have numerous plant-based options, and will keep dairy, egg and meat on the menu as well. We’ll continue working closely with livestock farmers and encourage grazing practices that benefit nature and the climate.”
The results of the National Trust AGM will be available shortly after the event in November 2024. You can read more about the proposed resolution for increased plant-based meals on the National Trust website.
Original source: https://www.veganfoodandliving.com
https://www.animalagricultureclimatechange.org/cities-plant-based-treaty/
