Food, the Planet, and a Life of Integrity: Honoring My Father, John Robbins

Since my father, John Robbins, passed on June 11th, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the legacy he leaves behind: one rooted in love for the Earth, reverence for life, and a fierce commitment to living in alignment with values.

In this video, I share memories of growing up off-grid in the forests of British Columbia, where sustainability was not a theory; it was a necessity. It was in that soil, quite literally, that my father’s values were formed. As he grew into one of the most influential voices of our time on food and environmental ethics, he connected powerful truths that were once treated as separate: that our food choices impact not only our health, but also the future of animals, ecosystems, and humanity itself.

Diet for a New America was revolutionary not just because it spoke hard truths—but because it connected them with clarity and compassion. In a time when environmental, health, and animal welfare movements were siloed, my dad showed how food could be a unifying force for change.

Today, the statistics are even more sobering: wild mammals make up just 4% of mammalian biomass on Earth. The rest? Humans and livestock. My father’s work helps us face this reality not with despair, but with purpose, reminding us that every choice, especially what’s on our plate, is a chance to live with integrity and impact.

💚 Thank you, Dad, for showing us how to live with conscience and reminding us that change begins with what we value and how we live those values.
With love,
Ocean Robbins