A NEW green living book from Australia’s chief scientific agency is the stuff of “tofu-munching climate extremists” that will hurt farmers, a Victorian politician says.

Western Victoria state Liberal MP John Vogels has attacked the CSIRO’s Home Energy Saving Handbook for promoting vegetarian diets as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The CSIRO has defended the publication and says it does not promote vegetarian diets, it just provides science on greenhouse gases related to food production.

Mr Vogels said there were better ways to reduce carbon footprints than giving up meat and destroying livestock farming.

“You should shop locally and have a vegetable patch in your back yard,” he said.

Livestock agriculture accounts for 11 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gases annually.

CSIRO group executive of agribusiness Dr Joanne Daly said the agency merely provided scientific information on carbon emissions stemming from different diets.

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