Fr Robert Miller (Letters, 2 August) quite rightly points out that the rearing of animals is a far more complex issue than just the provision of meat. This was in response to the reported statements by Mary Colwell in the news item (“Conference hears bishops are failing on the environment”, 26 July).Practically all of the arable land (about 10 per cent of the land surface of the Earth) is in use for growing crops. The land used for grazing is not suitable and eating less meat will not make it so. The world is becoming wealthier and this brings with it an appetite for a higher meat diet among those who until recently lived on an almost exclusively vegetarian ration. The agricultural market will be driven in this direction. World production of meat in this year is expected to be