"Oh yes, plant life can be used. Saeva Simius farmers produce excess food which we do sometimes change to biomass. The yield of plant life in comparison to animal is minor, original structure really. Plants are smaller, less surface area. Animals have many, many parts. It is similar to the 21st century human idea of biofuels. It isn't a question of whether it could be used so much as whether you are willing to environmentally ravage worlds in order to produce the required land for growth, and whether you could keep it sustainable growing at such a rate." Crassus said "We encountered environmental troubles when settling the Saeva Simius, so many became farmers and manual workers. Entire sections of their jungles completely leveled. The surplus if food was shocking, but the environmental damage was also shocking. If we moved the Saeva Simius out, it would taken dozens of cycles for the worlds to return to normal. It could be done, though my advise would be to be careful with it. Alternatively, we could also arrange some form of trade. Biomass is produced in surplus by the Corruptelae Insectum, they are like a virus with everything, they just make more and more and more. Access to these surpluses was part of the agreement between the Corruptelae Insectum Empress and the Collective when they entered the collective." He said, and the two sides looked to him in surprise. This was supposed to be a scientific venture, not some relations meeting. As for trading, they didn't even know what the Equestrians might have which the Collective needed.