A GOVERNMENT-BACKED "green tourism" organisation has sparked fury among farmers and tourism businesses by recommending visitors to the region be fed less meat – to prevent global warming.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has sent an e-mail newsletter to members across the South West that offer tourism accommodation, saying visitors should be fed less meat to cut the number of cows on the planet. Cows are known to produce high levels of methane – a key greenhouse gas – and the creation of pasture is a major driving force behind deforestation in equatorial regions.

But the recommendation has angered farmers, bed-and-breakfast and holiday letting businesses, who say that such a move would impact on their livelihoods.

It comes as the Conservative Party reveals that, if it is elected next year, it will prioritise British farmers in Government food contracts.

Angela Dallyn, Devon Farms Accommodation chairman, said she was "exasperated" by the newsletter's contents. "Most of our members are livestock farmers and it doesn't take much intelligence to realise that such a message to those of us whose livelihood depends on people enjoying the dairy and meat products that we produce is going to cause dismay and anger.

"As an organisation we have fully supported the GTBS and worked hard to encourage members to embrace green tourism and join up. In fact, a greater percentage of our members support GTBS than is the case in the wider tourism business. Now I am hearing of members saying that they will not be renewing their membership. I must admit it will be very difficult for Devon Farms to continue to support the scheme."

In its e-mail, the GTBS states: "This is a busy time of the year for many of our members and providing meals to visitors can make up a large slice of a business's income. But have you considered the impact these meals may be having on the global environment, especially through using meat and fish on the menu?

"The GTBS gives credit for the provision of a significant amount of vegetarian options, as it is important for health and environmental reasons to encourage people to eat less meat.

"We recognise that intensive meat production methods are responsible for a large amount of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as being associated with deforestation to make way for growing grain to feed cattle.

"So, why not try and encourage all your guests to eat less meat by providing more vegetarian options on your menu, or you could even follow the Belgium town of Ghent with a Meat-Free Monday campaign. As well as reducing your business's environmental impact, your menu's greater choice may well create more satisfied stomachs."

Ms Dallyn said the 130-strong co-operative has already voiced concerns about how the GTBS is developing, in particular over what it sees as a political element that is creeping in.

The offending newsletter gives the Vegetarian Society as a reference for further information, yet makes no mention of the National Farmers' Union, an organisation that can give information on all forms of food production.

Ms Dallyn claimed that GTBS farming members have pointed out that in upland areas the only crop is grass, so the most efficient and sustainable farming is livestock.

This creates massive additional benefits of spectacular scenery, it ensures the land is utilised, and provides the natural by-products of wool and leather.

Devon Farms Accommodation is a co-operative of 130 farms offering bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation.

It is run by farmers themselves and carries out marketing and training, runs a website and produces a brochure which is distributed across the country.

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is run by Green Business UK Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation. It lists its partners as including VisitEngland, South West Tourism and Devon County Council.

Spokesman Jon Proctor said the e-mail was aimed at raising a debate on the issue.

He said: "We are a little bit upset they have taken that attitude.

"We're not stopping them offering a nice farmhouse breakfast. We are simply raising the issue that in some situations, it's good to provide options.

"It's important to raise the issues of sustainability and have a lively debate."