It’s the point at which my well-meaning ethical consciousness goes into meltdown. When the competing claims of equally good causes clash and I am caught in the climate-change-charity-cause catch 22 – Kenyan beans.

I am not alone. Good-cause-conflict is a growing problem. You can spot people struck down by it in aisles of supermarkets everywhere. They stand rooted to the spot, a pack of vegetables in either hand, looking from one to the other with a look of bewilderment:

“Oh my God! Which one do I buy? The home-grown ones that are eco-friendly or the African ones that put money into the pockets of poor third-world farmers?

According to the climate change agenda it appears to be a no-brainer: Do I buy the ones that came in a lorry from down the road or the ones flown half-way round the world?

But before our green awareness began to sprout most of us already had personal care-plans. Top of most people’s I imagine was supporting people in poor and developing nations. Not just by giving food aid, but by helping them develop their own economies. The old “give a man a fish and he eats for a day; Teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”, argument, backed up by an offer to buy any fish he has left over.

Now it seems we are saying to the people we taught to use a rod “You can keep your fish, its covered in carbon!”

I don’t know about you, but that makes me feel, not just uncomfortable, but downright rotten.

As well as the repudiation of the trade not aid argument, it also conveniently ignores the sad economic history of Africa, which resulted largely from the interference of western industrialised countries.

New Scientist Consultant, Fred Pearce is convinced we should continue buying Kenyan and other African produce. He points out "growing beans in Europe in winter requires lots of energy to heat greenhouses – more in fact than to fly beans from Kenya”.

He says if you want to be climate friendly cut your own emissions and not the economic throat of African farmers.

If you really wanted to be cynical you could see moves by big supermarkets to promote home-grown produce is a way for them to cut their own costs and exert more control on farming in this country - something bankrupt dairy farmers could tell you a thing or two about.

So what do I conclude? How do I untie myself from the Gordian knot of competing good causes? Well I’m with Fred Pearce and the Kenyan farmers on this one. I will continue to buy African produce. In Kenya Beanz Meanz Farms.

Green Hornet