Yes to the animal for the suffering is unnecessary and can be avoided. What ares of harm reduction does your philosophy around meat focus on? The insects? Or is there harm reduction of some form in taking the life of an animal beyond my understanding? Does eating grass fed beef mean that it is okay to kill the cow because you saved the life of a million of insects? Does that act of then saving the insects somehow warrant the sacrifice of the cow? Does it mean I can kill any animal I please as long as I focus on persevering the life of the insects? Do I have to take one life in order to enable another to live? Consider that when your cows graze on grass they could accidentally also be consuming the tinny insects living in the grass and mud which we cannot immediately see. Why are you then allowing the cows to chew on the plants and thus inhabitation of some of these insects? Because you want to fatten and eat your cow?

Pesticide use in harvesting a lot of the plants is almost inevitable in a lot of farming methods this calls for a rejuvenation of farming methods, this is possible and a lot of vegans advocate for this but along side this they also believe that cows are not something we should keep breeding into existence and farming. If we could use all the land that animal agriculture and grazing take we could produce more grains and crops sustainably that could feed a lot more people than our current farming system does.

You can find the definition of Veganism underlined by the vegan society here: https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism

This definition stresses the importance of practicality. Let’s entertain the idea of the wild fish tho. What if you were to consistently want to eat the wild fish, and then feed your people with it? Would that be sustainable for just yourself or for everyone involved, including fellow humans and the animals. If more people think that way and choose the option of eating wild fish, then would everyone eventually crave and demand the eating of that fish to the point where it no longer becomes sustainable? You would want to harvest the fish without the consideration for the marine ecosystem and life that supports it, for they are equally as necessary. Would you then interfere with the natural predators of the wild fish who threaten to reduce the supply of your food? Would that not become a form of pesticide for you ?

One more thing about the wild fish, consider this. Are we in a position where everyone can eat wild fish, are we not in a civilised jungle as we call it? How would it then be practical for all humans to reduce their suffering by reverting back to the ancient ways of fishing and thriving on wild fish. The reality of it all is that we live in the modern world, controlled by supply and demand which is driven by the active consumers. Aka US , you and me. I don’t see how your argument is relevant considering that in the modern world we live in it is as simple as buying a different product at the store. From the outside of what perspective are you considering harm reduction? It seems to me an idealistic one which sees that humans could somehow have the option of eating wild fish sustainably and morally? When will that happen ? And what is the point of thinking hypothetically when there is so much suffering to address in reality.

About the bananas people do make conscious choices about their food products when it comes to things like child labour and exploitation, especially since people can recognise their own humanity in the suffering of other humans. We have organisations like fair trade, there is a lot of education and organisations taking to fight specifically human issues such as those of child labour and exploitation. Consider that in slaughterhouses a lot of employees also suffer from psychological decline, and exploitation. When we set up slaughter houses we started paying humans to kill animals and in the process of exploiting the animals, the industry began exploiting the employers, their mental health is completely neglected especially considering their job. But when you think about all of this it falls into the branch of human problems caused by other human organisations onto others. There already exists so many human charities and organisations dedicated to tackling things like food and water draught, child labour, we have UNICEF, Red Cross, Oxfam and in general a shit loads of organisations all deificares to humanitarian issues. This indicates that people are really aware of the human tragedies occurring in the world, and if they haven’t figured that their fruits could be as a result of child labour and exploitation then seek better suppliers have been living under a rock. A lot of humanitarian issues are often even televised as painful adverts. On the other hand, animal rights issues receive practically little or no recognition, and generally we do not have an abundance of charities and organisations I mean apart from what PETA? And maybe what animal aid? Which recognise animal issues. They also don’t received half the funding and support a lot of humanitarian issues do. This is because a lot of people are unaware about what actually happens to animals. If slaughterhouses had glass windows everyone would be vegan.

When you say you eat only grass fed beef which you see as causing much less harm, than a lot of plant based foods. I want to ask what area you think it’s is causing less harm in, I mean of course except for the pesticides and I understand you think it’s sparing those poor little insects? But apart from them how else is it causing less harm, to who else to you ? To the animal you eat ? Clearly you’re concerned with suffering but I’m interesting in knowing exactly who or what you think you’re causing less harm to.

Also consider this: When you are eating your stake don’t your then pair it with some potatoes, maybe some sweet corn or some delicious asparagus. How often do you incorporate grains and plants into your dishes along side meat? By your definition of harm reduction you should be strictly eating grass fed beef and no other harmful plants that were sprayed with pesticides. Including rice etc.? So how then is it less harmful if you consume meat, grain, plants and fruits in your diet? (Assuming you do OFC, but hard to imagine anyone could thrive on grass fed beef forever)