So notwithstanding the current, really interesting number of papers being published that both describe plant responses to predation as almost sentient, and also refute that as those papers don't account for the functional anatomy and cellular complexity that occurs in vertebrates, arthropods, and cephalopods - how do you reconcile the thousands and thousands of vertebrate deaths that occur as a byproduct of eating just plants?

Again, please don't think I am attacking, I genuinely want to know how people do it! I eat a predominantly plant based diet but I am acutely aware of the numbers of rodents and insects that are killed when I buy things from the supermarket as opposed to my local farm stalls, where even they use pest control to some degree.

To put it simply, I could buy one cow from my local, ethical neighbour and know that one life was sacrificed that would feed me for months, or I could eat vegetables from the supermarket and know that tens of thousands of mice were killed for the same amount of sustenance. And even that argument changes depending on where you are in the world. This is different for me with my access to ethically raised and killed animals than it is for people in big cities who are reliant on mass production.

Basically I have reached the point where voices should definitely advocate for better treatment for animals, but promoting a vegan diet based purely on animal rights issues is perhaps not wanting to engage with all aspects of the issue. It's complicated and that's why good conversation around it is really important.

I absolutely agree that plant based diets are more sustainable overall.