Can We Feed the World on the Primal Blueprint Diet? – Part 1
Every couple weeks, I get an email that asks about the global sustainability of the Primal Blueprint diet. It’s a common question, one that probably deserves a comprehensive answer – or as close to one as I can muster. See, the problem is that the world is really, really big. And the problems that affect the world have many layers. Each of those problems is made up of dozens of smaller problems, localized issues whose solutions – if they even exist – don’t necessarily apply to the others.
Indeed, the question posed in the title of today’s post isn’t just one question. It is many. Next week, I’ll attempt to answer the question(s) as best I can.
But for now, I just have to ask: is it even a valid question?
Let me start this by saying that my gut reaction to this question is largely a logical response. The question is usually presented in a way that implies that if everyone went Primal at once the economies and biosystems of the world would go into a catastrophic death spiral. That a population solely comprised of Primal enthusiasts could never work. I can’t help but think that this concern is somewhat like being worried about what would happen if everyone on earth became hairdressers (or lawyers, or ballerinas, or…). With 7+ billion barbers on our hands and no scissor manufacturers in sight we’d have more than a few problems on our hands, but I won’t be losing sleep at night over this vastly small potentiality. No, that isn’t defeatism rearing it’s ugly head, and yes, it’s not a perfect analogy, but the question has always struck me as a little strange in the first place.
In any case, I think it is safe to say that the chances of the entire world going Primal anytime soon are, well, slight. Yeah, it’s almost December 21, 2012, but I somehow don’t envision a huge Primal paradigm shift happening overnight (starring a Fivefingered John Cusack)
For that to happen…
US corn, wheat, soy, and other grain subsidies that have been firmly entrenched since the 1920s and 1930s would need to be abolished.
Authorities the world over would need to revise their health recommendations, thus admitting that they were wrong on a whole lot of important stuff.
Fast food would have to stop tasting so good to so many people (I know, I know, I find the stuff pretty awful myself, but millions obviously do not share our opinion).
The list goes on and on…
No, the infrastructure, and policies and systems we need to make this a reality may not be here now, but I do think feeding the world on a diet like this might be possible in an ideal world. The raw land, the means, the animals, even the methods all exist. People can physically grow herbs and leafy greens in their backyards, on their windowsill, or in a community garden. They might have to skip an hour of TV to have enough time for it or maneuver past archaic and ridiculous city ordinances to finagle a community garden out of an abandoned lot, but it’s physically possible. Cows already eat grass for most of their lives before heading to the feedlot, so the land’s there, and methodologies like rotational grazing really do seem to work. We couldn’t be living off of roasts and ribeyes, but a global diet of real food raised/grown the right way is entirely possible.
The challenges we face aren’t insignificant, but that’s not going to stop me from trying and it shouldn’t stop you either.
You know what will send a message and have an effect, however faint and minor (for the time being)? Voting with your dollar by eating Primally. Shopping at farmers’ markets. Growing your own vegetables. Raising some chickens or perhaps even a goat, or giving your money to people who do. Buying meat, berries, and greens, not white flour and soybean oil. These actions will draw attention and have an effect because they concern money. And when you proudly eat four pastured hard boiled eggs at lunch while turning down the last of the donuts (that’s been halved and quartered until oblivion by officemates who don’t want to be the person to finish them off) and someone notices that you’ve “really slimmed down” then puts two and two together, you may have unwittingly created another person who votes with their dollar for the same things you do.
And the more individuals get on board with Primal eating, the closer we’ll get to having a chance at real, lasting, “global” change, because every one of those individuals will influence others with their results and their dollars, and the effect will snowball and pick up momentum.
Grass-fed meat, pastured eggs and bacon, organic produce grown in rich soil? Yeah, it’s not for everyone right now. The thing is, though – nothing will ever change if we let the unfortunate global realities dictate our individual diets and render us too guilt-stricken to do the right thing (for our bodies). Vote with your dollar, I say. If enough people put an extra $2 toward pastured eggs instead of the cheaper blander ones, industry will notice. If we throw in the towel because everything isn’t perfect for everyone in the world right away and right now, nothing will ever change.
And it still might not, despite our best efforts. But at least we’ll eat well and live healthier lives than we otherwise would have. In the end, that’s what really matters.
Be sure to leave a comment, and don’t hold back. I’m hoping we get a good discussion going. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for Part II where I’ll be digging deeper on this topic next Wednesday!
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Posted By: Worker Bee 2
Well, as always your message is very thoughtful and logical.
I’m a stubborn older lady that just would not change ( I have all your books, cookbooks, etc.)everything, just a few things here or there that I liked.
But I reached the point of really wanting to lose weight, get my body back and eat in a way that really said something to me.
You have been the inspiration all along, but my last Doctor visit I was
shocked about my HBP. She gave me a book to read and follow, Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution. So much of what you say, and the science behind what you say and his book is amazing.
Well, I am on the right path now.
Reprogram those genes!
Much Thanks for all you have done and
will do!
Hello all,
I have been switching over to Primal for the past two months. I haven’t been perfect but I have been making steady progress. This has been a huge step for me because I have never really cooked in my life and taking the time has been a whole new but challenging adventure.
All of this makes sense to me. We truly are what we eat. I find a new awareness setting in. It’s all very cool.
I am very interested in growing my own veggies but I have no idea where to start. Just like cooking, it can seem a bit overwhelming when you have no experience.
I was also looking at my backyard thinking that it is a waste of soil just to have grass there but I don’t own the house i live in so I’m not sure where to begin.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
BTW. I live in New Orleans which should give you and idea of my climate and lifestyle.
Thank you so much Mark for helping me to change my life for the better. I’m only at the beginning of the road but so far it is very exciting to think that just because I’m 43 my strength and top health aren’t behind me.
Shana
Shana; I highly recommend you find a local permaculture course and take it. It will provide you with a big picture around growing things, which you will find very valuable to place new information you learn. It is also very oriented towards growing food for yourself in the most sustainable way known at this time. Many people involved will likely be kinda vegan/veg rather than primal, but that’s OK, main thing is you will hook into the right scale thinking.
Check out the New Orleans Food & Farm Network. They teach people how to do backyard farming.
1.check with your extension agent for recommended varieties for your area.
2. you have a nice, long growing season.
3. whether you own your apartment or house, you can grow your own. google container gardening and look. a good source again is your extension agent (not all endorse organic stuff, but it is research based) try square foot gardening.grow a tomato plant in a 5gal bucket (drainage holes made) few bean seeds planted in another pot with support for the vines, lettuce, radishes, carrots, etc.
Rock on! (or should that be ‘Grok on!’?
+1
One more thing to add….
Just read the death by massive heart attack of The Monkees Davey Jones!
If that doesn’t shock you all to get in
shape, well….
Daydream Believer……Rest in Peace.
He was 66 years old and I’m 67 – boy was that a shocker or what! And he always looked skinny – even more of a shocker—-
I was asked a similar question when I was vegan years ago. “What would happen if everyone went vegan?? The earth couldn’t support that!” It was just as silly a question, because neither future will ever come to pass.
Policy makers refuse to discuss the core issue at the heart of any number of things, which is simply overpopulation. Agriculture got us into this mess, and anyone with a brain can see that ever-more frightening agricultural practices (GMOs, monoculture, chemicals, etc) won’t get us out of it.
And yes, at the end of the day I make the choices that are best for my family. I don’t give up healthcare because others don’t have access to it. I don’t drink filthy water because that’s all some people in the world have access to. I make sustainable, environmentally-minded choices that I am lucky enough to be able to make, and hopefully if enough people do so we can somehow divert disaster.
I would much rather we reach a point where we have to learn how to feed the world sustainably, than the question we’re asking now, which is essentially “how can we produce the greatest amount of cheap calories by any means necessary”.
Proof that voting with your dollars works!
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9180bbf1-92e5-434f-aa04-3ced3c3c6155
With obesity,diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders,and a plethora of other health issues on the rise excess population may not be the issue.
It is worrisome to see China buying up land in South America because of the increase in meat consumption by not only the Chinese, but the US (don’t forget that much of that grocery store meat is processed, if not raised, in China). Supporting small local farmers is essential to sustainability and health.
Well, I believe I’m 1%, but I doubt that the other 99% will Occupy the farm!
I appreciate your logical perspective and common sense thinking in this article as well as the rest of the website. You cut right through all the blah-blah-blah right to the “meat” of the matter! More, please!!
I concur! Choose for yourself to eat, to live and be in the world in this way and in turn be a leader, a model, and inspiration for others to do so. People fear change but what if the primal blueprint changed the world and the lives of people in wonderful ways no one thought possible?
My boyfriend and I have actually thought about this question…he gets all in depth on it and I wave it off like “whatever” b/c, you are right – it just simply isn’t going to happen. I hate pondering the impossible. And I rarely try to push my Primal ideals on people – why bother? Aren’t they smart enough to figure it out for themselves;”How’s that woprkin’ for ya?”? No? Oh well…
Mark great article. Since I’m now follow the Paleo lifestyle I have been doing the shoping. Our family shoping cart looks much different then before, and all the food items you mention are in my cart.My $$ is being spent much diff. on health food items, not on all the crap in the stores. I shop around the outside of the store. Personally I don’t really want everyone to go Paleo, gives us that extra edge to look and feel great, but I have been promoting Paleo and now have my co-worker on it. She saw the drastic change in my face and body and asked me to forward her your Primal Blue Print. I was asked last night at the groc. store how I have lost 27lbs since Jan 10th, I told them to look in my shopping cart and stop eating bread sugar and bad carbs. I educated a few over wt.shoppers last night! Paleo for life for me and my family! I’m not out to change the world, but nice helping those who are willing to listen. Keep up the great work Mark!!
A while back, in reaction to an anti-paleo blog post on the NPR website, there was some discussion of these issues here:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread40797.html
It’s so funny, I was having a very similar discussion this morning – the power of the purse can make a difference!
In light of a definite economic collapse, running out of oil, all combined with the destruction of our environment, we can’t all go primal fast enough I’m afraid.
Who ever mentioned our world population has peeked – you are insane LOL. just look at a population graph – we are exponentially doubling over time. We are like a foreign diesease/plaque that keeps on multiplying robbing our earth(host) of all life and in turn wiping ourselves out, and we think we’re special….
That was fun.
As soon as the world all grows local sustainable food supplies and kills our current money system that is based on interest, we may have a chance. But I think a big natural correction is in order for human population to survive as we are 5 billion over any decent sustainable level (pre-1920)
A financial collapse would in no way inspire a more “primal” based diet. It would inspire an extreme use of grains — as it has for millenniums. Meat would again become a rare delicacy.
At no point in history — apart from modern times (primarily due to large feed lots) — has meat been so easily, and readily available to all sections of society. In the absence of our current system — these institutions would not get better. Sure, the cows might be eating grass…but that would be because the humans are now eating the corn, or all sorts of cereal grains.
Almost all wildlife within the US would be wiped out due to over hunting. Meat, in all forms, would be rare. Sure, you could raise your own, but it would again be a rare treat unless you have a massive herd of a couple hundred sheep/goats/cattle/etc. But, if you had that — you wouldn’t be eating them, rather you would be selling them for massive profits because those that could afford them would be the new “rich.”
For all the ills that cereal grains may cause — they keep humans alive when necessary. This “primal” diet is only allowed due to our financial success, and factors such as feed lot farming (and, it does play a role in pricing grass-fed beef).
“Primal” in the new world would be majority vegetables, and grains. Fruits would again become rare treats, as would most animals. Also, assuming that power was disrupted — many parts of the US/world would lack adequate refrigeration. So — most meats would spoil rather quickly.
I don’t think the Primal way of eating would scale up very well without the addition of dairy. I’m talking healthy dairy (raw and cultured). We would also need to look at eating the complete animal including all organs and blood.
If you check Google trends for “primal diet” and “paleo diet” you can see that interest is exploding. There was a step change at the beginning of 2012, so it looks to be snowballing.
While I have no doubt feeding the world can be done, I’ll work on my little corner.
I’m blessed to be a country girl. I have hens laying eggs, and adding compost material from pen when I have to keep them in (free range when I’m home, penned when I’m working all day because of dumped dogs) I grow veggies, and love doing it.
For anyone who wants to grow their own veggies, it does not take acres. Just a little room. check with your local Extension Agent or Master Gardener program for recommended varieties for your area, and don’t be afraid to try others.
Thanks, I think your articles are changing my life,for the better.anyway I’ve gone primal,its only been a week and already I feel better for it and happier.thankyou for enlightening me.
When I think of “global primal” I think of it in terms of whether even the poorest countries could eat this way … whether instead of grain and rice aid we could give them aid in the form of primal food, whether tremendously populated places like India could sustain it, etc.
I think we’d all, rich and poor alike, have to eat many more small animals and get away from the conventional farmed meat animals that we currently have in steady supply. In the past, we would have eaten rabbits, snakes, etc. Every community in the world would have to have to have the infrastructure of a steady supply of meat, and considering that the biggest animals, like cows, require more resources, we’d have to build most of the infrastructures around medium- to small-sized animals.
I remember reading about a program where villages were given some donated ducks. The ducks ate grubs that were raised in the duck manure and the children ate the duck eggs (with some reserved to hatch ducklings). The health of the children improved and they were able to care for the ducks themselves. Extra ducks were offered to other villages to start their own programs. It was a small project that ended up offering huge benefits to the participants.
That sounds like Heifer International, actually! Silly of me to only remember them now. http://www.heifer.org/
I’m really glad you took the time to write about this. Although I argue about how sustainable a natural food way is people just can’t seem to grasp it.
I think a big first step would be elimination grain subsidies. Better yet eliminate all agriculture and healthcare subsidies. What’s the saying “you can pay your farmer today or your doctor tomorrow”? Well if someone else is paying your doctor where is the incentive to pay your farmer?
This isn’t a privilege thing.
The answer to the third world’s problems is education and liberty, not browbeating ourselves for not falling into the same pit they are in.
People are not born stupid. Offer them education, and they will climb themselves out of the subsistence agriculture/poverty trap.
Browbeating yourself for improving your own life will not help these folks in the slightest.
All the food aid does is tide the starving over till they feed themselves and multiply till the next famine.They are not living in a sustainable ecosystem.We add to the problem with food aid.
Most of the billions of population is in the 3rd world that we aid but all we are doing is adding to the long term suffering.
Should we be cruel to be kind(a brit saying)or kind to be cruel.
Most of the suffering people in the third world are suffering because of their own governments. Any attempt to put food or capital away for a rainy day is thwarted by kleptocrats who rob them blind.
Crowded countries with honest governments, like Singapore, have no problem importing food … honest government means they can afford imports.
Third world starvation is a political problem, and not a Malthusian one.
Excellent topic. A while ago Freakonomics did a piece that basically said local food can’t work, meat eating can’t work, and the world has to be fed on GMO grain.
There are so many fallacies inherent in that way of thinking. Here is my response, very much along the same lines as yours!
http://theliberatedkitchenpdx.com/articles/the-inefficiency-of-local-food/
I would love this but there is little way to convince people rooted in refined culture (such as that of south and east asia) to budge. Just another thing to think about
Great article!
This may not apply to most of us city – dwellers:
“Growing your own vegetables. Raising some chickens or perhaps even a goat,”
But this part is nice:
“or giving your money to people who do.”
I think it is doable to primal feed the world, especially with the current state of technology.
You can do almost all of that in the city – and if your city is not big on chickens – talk to the neighbours, maybe they don’t care…. or sometimes better to beg forgiveness….
If I initially do not scare them with my mace and ax … I am all for begging for forgiveness
Have to agree – the question of whether a primal diet is sustainable is the wrong question. The real question is whether 7 billion is sustainable? If you argue we are supporting 7 billion now – I would argue that what we are doing now to sustain the North American SAD diet, food production, etc is not sustainable – we’re killing the planet.
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has – Margaret Mead
Grok On
This is a one hour movie concerning our food supply, its quality and
likelihood of sustainability. It is somewhat disturbing, but that
is the current reality. There are solutions, and these are
advocated. If you are concerned about the food you buy and eat,
this documentary will be enlightening. It is currently available at
this link:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/26/fresh-video-documentary.aspx?e_cid=20120226_SNL_Art_1
It will not be available after March 3rd, however.
The real question is are we sustainable not going primal?
If the thought is to truly bring world sustainability — almost the most assured way would be to invest in hydroponic/aquaponics agriculture.
As for meat…no, not possible.
where do all your chemicals come from for hydroponics,where do all the foods come from for aquaponics?all extra costs and vital resources.
Oh, I thought we were talking about feeding the world.
Let’s see — if food is the goal, I’d take a 10 acre multistory Hydropnic (or even aquaponic) farm over an 10 acre organic farm. Also, while there may be chemicals involved — it can come extremely close to “organic” minus the soil.
Aquaponic farms have among the greatest ability for innovation as much of it can be self-contained/sustained (ie. food sources for the fish).
Meat is never a viable option for the world. It never has been. It is something that may be good for us, but is not something that has ever been truly viable on a mass scale apart from the advent of massive feed lots/coops.
Whoever said that it is our birthright to exist on a mass scale. If we had 7 billion wolves instead of humans, we know Nature can’t cough up the necessary deer and rabbits. So those poor wolves should just turn to chewing algae? Sorry, I don’t know what the solution is to climb down from here – but trying to eat what our body wasn’t made for is not going to do it. Meat was the viable option some primate ancestor chose long ago, you must live with(and could love)that decision.
Sorry, not on board with that – Maintaining these highly modified environments rely on technology that seems to be horribly energy intensive (where we live), not robust and its disease prone. We must re-join with nature – somehow.
Don’t forget the humble rabbit in all this.All those inedible(to us)veg peelings and outer leaves will provide very healthy meat,plus fertiliser and,if your really fanatical,furs too.
Very little outlay and very small space needed,the ideal backyard animal.
Though, definitely make sure you eat something else other than rabbit…or face “rabbit starvation.”
that’s a very pathetic and somewhat hysterical reply,even from you.
THE POINT IS: That the amount of meat and fish necessary to put 7+ billion people on a primal diet that doesn’t soon start to resemble an almost rawfood diet is just NOT availiable.
When talking organic & grass-fed this is even more the case.
Not even because there’s not enough space. Think putting the entire population of China on a primal diet with plenty of grassfed beef, etc.
Not even because the oceans are overfished.
But mostly because of the insane amount of methane & other greenhouse gasses that will be excreted on such a massive global scale, that INDEED:
The primal diet can never fuel the world…not without most/if not all of the human population dying because of it that is..
So much for increasing the worlds fitness & vitality.
Just tell me how many millions of buffalo grazed on the plains before they were almost wiped out.?antelope,deer,grouse.They all produced methane too,that INDEED.
More veggie false propaganda
So, modern polluting society + the required billions of animals for consumption across the world.
Actually, methane generation by grass fed animals is a fraction of that by grain-fed. The rumen is operating correctly on grass and results in little methane, whereas CAFO is where these things are usually measured, wrongly implicating all grass fed herbivores.