Plant-Based Canada Podcast
Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast. Join us as we talk with experts to explore the field of nutritional sciences and how our food choices impact our health and the environment. We sit down with Canadian doctors, dieticians, athletes, climate experts and others/more, to break down the evidence behind a Whole Food Plant-Based diet, and discuss the practical steps you can take in your efforts to shift toward a healthier lifestyle. The Plant-Based Canada Podcast is an initiative of the group Plant-Based Canada, which aims to educate the public and health professionals on the evidence-based benefits of plant-based whole food nutrition for individual and planetary health. To learn more about the show, visit our website www.plantbasedcanada.org and stay up to date by following us on Instagram and Facebook @plantbasedcanadaorg, and our Plant-based Canada YouTube channel. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. PBC is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or opinions related to the content stated by the guests interviewed. All information in this podcast is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the conclusions obtained from the use of this information. The podcast should not be considered professional advice. Listeners should seek their own individual healthcare advice as needed.
Plant-Based Canada Podcast
Episode 79: Eleanor Boyle on Rethinking Factory Farming to Stop Avian Flu
In this episode of the Plant-Based Canada Podcast, we sit down with Eleanor Boyle. She’s a Vancouver-based writer who focuses on food policy and sustainable diets. A long-time journalist and former college instructor, she has written many articles on ways to improve our food systems. She has two book – “High Steaks: Why and How to Eat Less Meat”, and “Mobilize Food: Wartime Inspiration for Environmental Victory Today”.
In our conversation, Eleanor discusses the recent news that avian flu has been detected in dairy cows in the U.S., and how scientists here in Canada are now sounding the alarm about staying ahead of an outbreak here at home. She delves into the issues around factory farming, and how these kinds of zoonotic diseases can become larger threats with pandemic potential.
But besides highlighting the concerns, Eleanor also outlines the complicated path to alleviating the massive impacts our food systems have on everything from planetary health… to our own individual health.
Resources
- Eleanor’s article in the online National Observer, outlining evidence that poultry farming is a major factor in the rise and spread of bird flu
- Eleanor’s introductory 2024 blog post on avian flu
- Peer-reviewed scientific article showing that avian-flu viruses mutate into lethal form most often among poultry
- Comprehensive and expert bird-flu report (2023) from Compassion in World Farming, entitled Bird Flu: Only Major Farm Reforms Can End It
- Dr. Michael Greger’s Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching
- United Nation’s Scientific Task Force on Avian Influenza and Wild Birds
- Eleanor’s book “High Stakes: Why and How to Eat Less Meat”
Bonus Promotion
Check out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2024 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn.