Introduction
Over the years, food insecurity has been considered a national crisis in some parts of the world, most importantly developing countries. A report compiled by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, FAO (2008), reveals that close to a billion people on a global level have been affected by this issue. In order to solve the problem, livestock diet has been considered as a major solution for alleviating hunger since multitudes of people depend on meat, milk and eggs for food. On a perspective of ecological sustainability, meat and dairy products consumption has attracted heated food debates, drawing various opinions to the subject matter (Fairlie & McWlliams, 2015). In this study, an in-depth analysis has been conducted to examine inefficiencies of industrial livestock farming in food production and its impact on the environment.
Inefficiency of Industrial Livestock Farming in Food Production
According to FAO (2008) reports, animal product consumption is likely to go up in the coming years as the demand for animal products increases. The result will be a drop down to food production especially farm produces, as livestock depend on this very supply for food which is also suitable for human use (FAO, 2008). According to modern researches; depletion of food sources for the sake of production of meat and dairy products is a major cause of hunger problems (Ranganathan et al., 2016). In other words, there’s a stiff competition between people and livestock for farm produce.
Additionally, most countries would rather produce more animal feed than human farmland food. In this case, significant attention has been given to meat and dairy products consumption. United States provides a good example of the case; more acres of land have been set aside for animal feed production and 13 times less the amount set aside for vegetable growing. In the long run, food production of farmland produce is likely to decrease with the increase in population. To provide a solution to the food issue, a reduction in meat consumption and an increase in the size of land for food crop production should be considered (Ranganathan et al., 2016).
The Impact of Livestock Industry on the Environment
As it is, the world is addressing numerous predicaments which owe their subsistence to meat and dairy industry. With all sorts of global concerns: global warming, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, grassland damages, and any other factor that questions sustainability of meat and dairy industry; it is logical to think that excessive consumption of meat and dairy products may be unsustainable (Dagevos & Voordouw, 2013). The following factors illustrate some of the unconstructive sides of industrial livestock farming affecting the environment:
Global warming; United Nation’s attempts to alleviate global warming issues by moderating greenhouse gases is facing immense challenges as the number of livestock increases by the day. Livestock industry hugely contributes to global warming since they account for nearly 18% of greenhouse gases emission, which includes carbon dioxide (Dagevos & Voordouw, 2013).
Deforestation; meat consumption has been given much attention worldwide to the extent that huge percentages of trees have been cut down to clear land for livestock pasture. Deforestation permanently destroys forested land and all the benefits which were to be generated (Dagevos & Voordouw, 2013).
Loss of Biodiversity; animal agriculture requires significantly huge amount of pasture; hence the need to keep huge acres of grassland. Due to monoculture, grasslands suffer the implication of reduced fertility leading loss of biodiversity (Dagevos & Voordouw, 2013).
Soil Erosion; overgrazing is a common problem in animal agriculture; an issue that has rendered most grazing land badlands. Loss of biodiversity is not the only factor that threatens sustainable performance of the environment; there is also the issue of soil erosion due to overgrazing. In reference to a study conducted by Lean (2006), over 50% of grazing land in the United States has been affected by soil erosion because of overgrazing. Repairing degraded soil is quite costly; long periods of time and money must be surrendered to ensure that soil fertility is regained.
Pollution Due to Waste Disposal; For Lean (2006), livestock industry account for huge number of wastes obtained form cattle, chickens, pigs and other domesticated animals. In one way or another, these wastes may end up in rivers causing water pollution and at the same time killing water creatures.
Sustainable Creation and Future Food Production
With the current global population and livestock products’ consumption, it will be hard for people to put a stop to the consumption of livestock products. The possible solution to a more sustainable future with regards to food production starts with analyzing the inefficiency of industrial livestock farming in food production and its impact on the environment. For Simon Fairlie, the editor of land magazine and author of meat, the possible reduction of meat consumption by 50 percent globally, is sustainable. Less meat consumption will not only address health-related and moral issue, but will also ensure that a sustainable food future is created. Any approach is likely to limit excessive consumption of meat and dairy products; whether application of moral strictures or ritual taboos (Fairlie & McWlliams, 2015).
Conclusion
Industrial livestock farming is hardly sustainable as far as environmental issues and food production inefficiencies are concerned. With the rising population and food insecurities, the possibility of people completely avoiding meat consumption is close to zero. Regardless, a reduction in the consumption of meat and dairy product is likely to benefit the entire human race and the environment. Less meat and dairy product consumption means environment conservation and reduced effects of global warming, soil erosion, deforestation, and water pollution.
References
Dagevos, H., & Voordouw, J. (2013). Sustainability and meat consumption: is reduction realistic?. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 9(2), 60-69.
Fairlie, S & McWlliams, J. (2015). Can Eating Meat and Dairy Products Be Sustainable? New Internationalist Organization. Retrieved January 30, 2018 from https://newint.org/sections/argument/2015/06/01/sustainable-meat-dairy-eating
FAO. (2008). The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved January 30, 2018 from http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0291e/i0291e00.htm
Lean, G. (2006). Cow’s Emission’ More Damaging to Planet than from Cars. Independent Magazine. Retrieved January 30 2018 from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/cow-emissions-more-damaging-to-planet-than-co2-from-cars-427843.html
Ranganathan, J., Vennard, D., Waite, R. I. C. H. A. R. D., Dumas, P., Lipinski, B., & Searchinger, T. (2016). Shifting diets for a sustainable food future. World Resources Institute: Washington, DC, USA.
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