Rich Roll says a silver lining of the COVID-19 outbreak is that it is shining a spotlight on the issue of animal farming.

The author, Ironman athlete, and podcaster made the comments during a YouTube interview with Plant Based News‘ Klaus Mitchell.

Roll – who was once branded the ‘Fittest Vegan on Earth’ by Men’s Health magazine – was asked by Mitchell whether he thought there would be any silver linings during the pandemic.

‘Our broken systems’

“If there is a silver lining in this COVID-19 pandemic, and I think there is, it’s that it’s shining a very bright light on many of our broken systems right now that need redress,” Roll answered.

“And at the top of that list is animal agriculture, the ills of animal agriculture, the extent to which animal agriculture is creating massive environmental destruction and upheaval, the extent to which animal agriculture foments and creates these zoonotic diseases that we’re seeing right now.

“These are broken systems. We need a new way and we actually have a new way, it’s right in front of us. I don’t have to tell you Klaus, we’re all eating a plant-based diet. We’re healthy, we feel good. We no longer need to bail out these industries, take care of them and patronize them because there is a better way. So…there’s massive mainstream awareness of the ills of factory farming and my hope is that this will be a nail in the coffin of an industry that needs to go away.”