Thesis: Economic success in the rising of social classes increase the demand of meat to end poverty causes ecological disasters.
Poverty has been an issue for many centuries and slowly the economy has helped bring the poor out of poverty. Agriculture, mainly meat production has helped provide for many of these poor families but the consequences further damage the World. Meat is the main protein for many countries. The amount of land used for livestock and pastures are increasing to accommodate the growing population. With more agriculture land the more greenhouse gas emissions and pollution it brings, causing ecological disasters.
The world needs better food systems. Where independent farmers are not controlled by large corporations that use synthetics crops and pesticides. These farmers can create incomes from organic and sustainable resources. The meat industry puts out millions of workers out of employment, making them fall into poverty. Production is made on a global scale based on the assumed needs of people and economy. Animal agriculture was endorsed by several organizations because it was believed to be the solution to end world hunger but now with scientific evidence of the rippling effects it has different approaches are made to balance out the risks.
Large corporations profit from industrial animal agriculture instead of local independent farmers in rural communities. This system only benefits the urban population. Low cost imported food should help decrease hunger but instead the poor are forced to move out into cities to work in factories with low wages that they barely can pay for meat. It also occupies space for growing feed like corn and pastures. It takes more land to feed an animal than one person. The land used for agriculture can feed the whole world and end poverty. “It takes, on average, ten pounds of grain or soya to produce one pound of meat. Land used to grow rice can support 19 times more people than land devoted to egg production.” (Cox 2007) The amount of space needed to raise one animal can feed more people. Understanding this concept will help create new practices for food systems and land use efficiently.
Many natural resources are depleted by the industrial animal agriculture. Water supply can become limited because livestock requires high amounts of water. Unlike plant based proteins who don’t need much water or land for growth. It’s better to move forward to new forms of protein and sustainable practices than increasing animal production to end poverty. “The International Food Policy Research Institute estimates that a 50% reduction in meat eating in the developed world by 2020 could mean 3.6 million fewer malnourished children in developing countries.” (Cox 2007) Solutions to end poverty should be addressed on a global scale and the future of the planet as well as generations be taken account.
Establishing efficient farming practices will conserve natural resources and provide more access to the people. Cutting down food, health, transportation costs are benefits that come with better food conversion yields. Animals consume more energy and food than what it provides for when sold for meat. Around 50% of habitable land is used for agricultural uses like raising livestock, growing animal feed or grazing. The land used for growing crops supply more protein and food than the land used for animal agriculture which is four times more larger. Livestock makes up 77% of that 50% while 23% is used for crops. (Roser) Land used for arable crops can feed the world instead of overproducing meat and dairy products.
The evolution of global food systems in agricultural practices has impacted the world but it has become one solution to end poverty. Natural resources are finite and are quickly decreasing due to the meat industry. As well as climate change, which can affect crop seasons for farmers. Reducing food waste will increase the food supply available for those in need and causes no risk of gas emissions. This change in the economy will help reduce transportation costs and food prices that will target the lower social classes in order to afford food. “Climate-smart agriculture-higher agricultural productivity, greater climate resilience, reduced GHG emissions is essential to permanently end poverty and hunger.” (Thompson 2015) The growing population needs higher crop yields to produce the amount of food demand. With the expansion of this practice then there will be a reduction of greenhouse gasses and stop future ecological disasters.
Cox, Janice. “Industrial Animal Agriculture Part of the Poverty Problem.” World Animal Protection, World Society for the Protection of Animals, 2007, http://www.worldanimalprotection.ca/sites/default/files/ca_-_en_files/wspa_poverty_report_tcm22-3744.pdf.
Roser , Max, and Hannah Ritchie. “Yields and Land Use in Agriculture.” Our World in Data, documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/700061468334490682/pdf/95768-REVISED-WP-PUBLIC-Box391467B-Ending-Poverty-and-Hunger-by-2030-FINAL.pdf.
Townsend, Robert F. “Ending Poverty and Hunger by 2030.” The World Bank, World Bank Group, 2015, documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/700061468334490682/pdf/95768-REVISED-WP-PUBLIC-Box391467B-Ending-Poverty-and-Hunger-by-2030-FINAL.pdf.