CLIMATE HIJACK; ROYAL WELSH SHOW: Livestock boss hits out at celebrity veggies.

Byline: andrew FORGRAVE

A WELSH livestock boss has launched an astonishing attack on clueless celebrities who he accused of "hijacking" the climate change debate to pursue an agenda against farmers.

Rees Roberts, chairman of Hybu Cig Cymru, the Welsh red meat marketing body, criticised celebrities and pressure groups that portrayed meat eaters as people who don't care about the planet.

He spoke out as the Welsh farming industry gathers for its annual celebration at the Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells.

Mr Roberts attacked the culture which elevates celebrity views above those of nutritional experts.

His outburst is an open attack on ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney who last month called on people to go meat-free one day a week to cut their carbon emissions.

Other pop stars such as Chris Martin to Sheryl Crow have also campaigned for households to cut out meat on Mondays.

Mr Roberts said: "We've even a town in Belgium trying to ban meat one day a week. The more extreme elements go further, accusing livestock farmers and meat eaters of killing the planet and heaping all the woes of climate change on our shoulders. This is utter nonsense."

Agriculture is responsible for about 7% of the UK's greenhouse gas emission - mostly from crop and grass production but also from methane from livestock.

North Wales animal campaigner Judi Hewitt believes meat-free diets are essential if climate change is to be tackled.

"I was nagged from the age of nine to eat the stuff and I''m glad I never listened to my parents, aunties, uncles, and plenty of others," she said.

Mr Roberts said farming had to do its bit but he demanded greater balance in the debate.

Bangor University's Centre for Alternative Land Use is mid-way through a 20-farm study aimed at lowering carbon emissions.

And HCC itself is working on a climate change "roadmap", looking at ways on lowering the impact the beef and sheep supply chain.

Mr Roberts said it was nave for some organisations to suggest that crops can be substituted for livestock production.

In Wales, 85% of the land is classified as difficult terrain, making livestock the only option for most farmers.

"Unfortunately there are some individuals and organisations that use climate change as a stick to beat the livestock industry," he said.

"They have latched onto the issue, making outrageous claims that consuming meat equates to destroying the world. They get a huge amount of publicity."

Farmers insist that ploughing up grasslands to grow crops instead of raising cattle, would release far more carbon into the atmosphere.

"Our job is to feed the world, not destroy it," Mr Roberts added.

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An industry leader has slammed celebrities such as Paul McCartney for branding meat-eaters as people who don't care about the planet or greenhouse gas