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Meat consumption and climate change |
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by Mathieu DOHOUNHEHO | 14-10-2018 04:57
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In several countries, meat is a particularly ambivalent image. Meat continues to be an element, a food of choice and a major element of the meal, associated with pleasure and conviviality. From a nutritional point of view, it is also considered for its contributions in several nutrients of interest, useful to meet needs. Livestock accounted for about 40% of global agricultural production in 2008. This supports the multitude of small farmers in a country. Animal production for animals and the entire life cycle of livestock farming have very negative environmental impacts: beef, for example, is the second most consumed meat after poultry and is commonly thought to be high in consumption. Several breeders are investing massively in this sector. While only one cattle was used for meat production is responsible for 14. Indeed, livestock farming is one of the main sources of soil and water degradation. The cultivation of maize and soya for animal feed and fodder uses large quantities of water and arable land. Forage production uses more than 30% of the cultivable land and grazing occupies 26% of the soil surface. Intensive agriculture for maize or soya uses massively chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which are responsible for serious water and soil pollution: eutrophication of water, dead aquatic areas, deterioration of coral reefs, impoverishment, erosion and desertification of soils. Thus, without intensive livestock farming, the land they tread - roughly the size of the African continent - would be used for growing vegetables, fruits or cereals. In addition, plant life could regain the upper hand, which would help to limit the effects of global warming (sustainable development objective 13). The lack of agricultural land also leads to deforestation: 91% of the land "recovered" in the Amazon forest is used for grazing or soya production, which will later feed livestock. And fewer forests mean less carbon dioxide emissions absorbed. To this end, FAO estimates that 70% of the world's agricultural land is used either for livestock breeding or for the production of cereals for food. The return of trees or plants to these lands would allow more CO2 to be absorbed. This sector also consumes a lot of water, using nearly 14,000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of meat. This value is higher than the consumption of cereals, for example rice (1 400 litres) or wheat (1 200 litres). According to FAO, by 2027, world meat production is expected to increase by 15% compared to the reference period. 76% of this production is expected to be particularly strong in the poultry sector. If this production has increased by another 15%, can you imagine what our environment will look like after 2027? Imagine the state in which our world is found after 2027 if 14.5% of gas emissions have been emitted and four times emitted by the agricultural sector today What kind of person would you like us to look for? Whether it is for young environmental ambassadors or for young ecologists?
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10 Comments
Livestock farming has been an integral part of agricultural system around the world. Although agriculture is quite responsible for climate change, we must conduct agriculture to meet the demand of our food need. So, we must look into the sustainable agriculture which are less responsible for climate change and can adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Posted 19-10-2018 22:36
Thank you dear Mentor for your feedback
Posted 19-10-2018 02:00
Hello Mathieu, quite a many regional ambassadors already left their feedbacks on this issue. It is true that producing tons of meat for meat diet-based tables is leading all of us bound to 'climate change zone' more and more. I read articles concerning black tiger shrimps bred in sea-shore of South East Asia countries, and it said it literally 'clears out' the whole land and sea water in less than 4 years, consuming tons of natural resources, minerals in sea water, and polluting the land by using chemical compounds to breed shrimps faster in a short time. Mangrove trees used to be there, but building up and moving onto the new sea shore area is devastating the sea shore area way too quickly, quicker than the speed of growing mangroves.
This issue does not seem to be far from the meat consumption, which leads vast region into barren and futile land in a couple of years, leaving no feedbacks or turning point for green grass-covered areas.
Thanks for your report, and hope other regional ambassadors do take a look at your report too!
Posted 17-10-2018 22:12
Thank you dear Le mentor de Gyeongrin for your feedback.
Posted 16-10-2018 21:45
Thank you very much Israel Adeoye for the valiant comment, I really enjoyed it. In two points very quickly:
1- The article does not go against the consumption of meat but rather against an excessive consumption of meat and therefore to reduce consumption.
2- This is also stated in the article 'Intensive agriculture for maize or soya uses massively chemical fertilizers and pesticides, responsible for serious water and soil pollution: eutrophication of water, dead aquatic areas, degradation of coral reefs, soil impoverishment, erosion and desertification'. That is to say, this sector forces the agricultural sector to use too much chemical fertilizers that wildly pollute our environment. Reducing meat consumption means reducing the misuse of chemical fertilizers. And we can do intensive agriculture without chemical fertilizer.
Posted 16-10-2018 21:31
Hello Mathiew
It would be best if life stock farming could find improvements in its methods so that these farming could reduce pollution. In many cases, the problem lies in the mismanagement of resources and I believe that if correction could be done through research and discussions things could get better. However, it is also true that meat consumption has risen quite a lot recently and awareness does seem to be needed!
Thanks for the reprot :)
Posted 15-10-2018 20:15
Nice report
Posted 15-10-2018 14:41
Mathieu,
Though the rate of meat consumption, especially in this festive period in Nepal, is increasingly high. Also, as your report also claimed, livestock farming contribute greatly to environmental pollution. However, that doesn't give a reason to ban livestock farming or discourage meat consumption.
Don't forget that crop farming, as a result of improper use of agrochemicals, also pollute our environment and that will not stop planting of food.
Also, the choice of one's meal is subject to one's decision. I made a similar comment on a related post earlier.
The best method to reduce agricultural source of pollution is conservative agricultural practices
Thanks for your report Mathieu.
Posted 15-10-2018 03:18
Thank's Hamani Chand
There are simple habits that just need to be adjusted to solve some of our problems without spending millions of dollars. Just stop eating meat and prefer vegetables, edible mushrooms, fish...... And a large part of our environmental problems (SDG13) will be solved. We must continue to work to get there.
Posted 14-10-2018 21:57
Hello Mathieu Sir
As a new member of this Eco-generation, I feel very glad that I got to know and understand about many things related to nature. But about this specific topic I'm also worried. Because me, a citizen of Nepal, who has to experience this issue of meat and related problems is always in yearly rotation basis. As the biggest festive season of Hindus is coming near in our country, Dashain, demands for meat is increasing rapidly. In addition with population growth, meat demand is also touching sky.
So I think this is one of the serious matter to concern. I feel that we should promote veggies foods. Because it's not only beneficial for humans but also for this Earth.
Thank you for your suggestions. As an young nature caretaker, I believe I and we can solve this problem very soon.
Posted 14-10-2018 12:27