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Could going vegan help feed the world and save the planet? While industry and power production are often singled out as the main drivers of climate change, the global meat production industry is a bigger polluter. Preventable heart disease is the largest cause of death in the US, and eating too much meat is a major contributing factor. And worldwide, agricultural lands are sown with enough crops that no one need go hungry – but much of this is fed to animals rather than people.

Veganism advocate Gary Francione and nutritionist Ron Weiss join Nuala McGovern to discuss the pros and cons of veganism. While it might make sense from an ethical and climate change perspective, it’s a massive cultural leap for many. We ask whether veganism could really be useful in places where food might not be readily available, and answer concerns over whether a non-meat diet can provide adequate nutrition.

This is the third in a series of four programmes from the Oxford Literary Festival, presented by Nuala McGovern. The Producer is Julian Siddle.

Recorded in front of an audience at Worcester College Oxford.

Gary Francione is a writer on animal rights and professor of law at Rutgers University, and Dr Ron Weiss is a physician, farmer and founder of Ethos Primary Care, a farm-based healthcare system.