In regards to eating meat

[BrownEye]

suffer |ˈsəfər|
verb [ trans. ]
1 experience or be subjected to (something bad or unpleasant) : he'd suffered intense pain | [ intrans. ] he'd suffered a great deal since his arrest | [as n. ] ( suffering) weapons that cause unnecessary suffering.
• [ intrans. ] ( suffer from) be affected by or subject to (an illness or ailment) : his daughter suffered from agoraphobia.
• [ intrans. ] become or appear worse in quality : his relationship with Anne did suffer.
• [ intrans. ] archaic undergo martyrdom or execution.
2 dated tolerate : France will no longer suffer the existing government.
• allow (someone) to do something : my conscience would not suffer me to accept any more.

intransitive verb
1: to endure death, pain, or distress
2: to sustain loss or damage
3: to be subject to disability or handicap

Suf´fer`ing
n. 1. The bearing of pain, inconvenience, or loss; pain endured; distress, loss, or injury incurred; as, sufferings by pain or sorrow; sufferings by want or by wrongs.
a. 1. Being in pain or grief; having loss, injury, distress, etc.


For some people, they need to have experienced suffering before they can experience empathy towards another's suffering.

I shall repeat my words differently, why is it a plant does not suffer at the hand of nature with the same intensity as from the hand of Man?

Quite possible it is simply the intention of consciousness. The free will needed to create a tangible negativity and self importance above all other creation or life.