The Meatrix film highlighted four ways in which factory farms affect us – animal welfare, antibiotic resistant bacteria, pollution and destroyed communities. Factory Farms, dubbed Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) by the industry, are immense facilities with vast numbers of livestock such as pigs and cows, which are kept in extremely crowed conditions. The facilities store vast amounts of animal waste in stinking, foul “lagoons.” The stench and pollution of local waterways severely impact the quality of life for their neighbors. This style of farming is being exported to countries around the world at a rapid rate. Find out information on the wide range of factors that contribute to the devastating impacts of industrial agriculture.
A growing number of European citizens are deeply concerned about agriculture and the quality of food. Mad cow and foot and mouth diseases have raised consumer concerns about how far the industry will go to reduce food production costs. People are already aware of the environmental damages resulting from industrialised agriculture. The Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is currently supporting this mode of industrial agriculture.
Animal Welfare
Animals on factory farms are looked at as units of production, not as living beings. They are often overcrowded indoors in unsanitary conditions. Ammonia and other gases from the manure that collects in the enclosed buildings where the animals live irritate animals' lungs, to the point where over 80% of US pigs have pneumonia upon slaughter.
Antibiotics
Because of the crowded and unsanitary conditions on factory farms, animals are often fed low doses of antibiotics. Antibiotics are also used to make the animals grow faster. This is contributing to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans. Resistant bacteria infections increase healthcare costs by an estimated $4 billion per year in the United
States. In addition, every year approximately 25 million pounds of antibiotics and related drugs are administered to animals for non-therapeutic purposes (i.e. boosting growth rates and preventing disease). This is more than 8 times the amount used to treat disease in humans.
Buy Local
In the United States, the average meal travels over 1,500 miles to reach your dinner plate. By eating food produced locally, you are helping yourself, the environment and your community in many ways. 91 cents of each U.S. dollar spent at traditional food markets goes to suppliers, processors, middlemen, and marketers; only 9 cents of each U.S. dollar actually goes to the farmer.
Communities and Workers
Sustainable farms provide a welcome alternative to the problems associated with factory farming. Unlike corporate factory farm owners who have very little interest in the condition of local communities, sustainable farmers have a strong connection to their communities and a demonstrated commitment to preserving the surrounding land. In addition, workers on sustainable farms are treated fairly and earn a respectable wage. Did you know that the construction of a CAFO has been shown to consistently cause property values to decrease by 10 to 20 percent?
Economics
Supporters of industrial agriculture claim that large-scale factory farming is the most efficient way to produce huge quantities of inexpensive food and that without industrial agriculture, food prices would be excessively high. But the price of industrial food does not take into account the true costs of production. A substantial portion of agricultural economics literature suggests that smaller, family farm operations are actually more productive.
Environment
Agriculture has an enormous impact on the environment, but whether the impact is good or bad depends on the type of agriculture used. Sustainable agriculture puts back what it takes from the environment, while factory farming pollutes our air, water and soil. According to a study conducted by the Department of Economics at the University of Essex , industrial farms cause $34.7 billion worth of environmental damage in the U.S. each year.
Factory Farming
Corporate HogsMeat production in the United States has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. Small family farms are being replaced by huge livestock facilities, where animals suffer horribly, workers are mistreated, the environment is being destroyed, and where rural communities are dying. Find out what factory farms are. This style of farming is being exported to other countries at an alarming rate.
Food Irradiation
Large food corporations want to raise meat in countries with cheap labor and few environmental laws. In order to do that, they need irradiation. This increases the shelf life of the food so it can travel longer distances and stay on store shelves longer. Irradiation has not been properly tested for safety, depletes vitamin content, increases the amount of toxic waste in the world, and reportedly doesn't taste good.
Fossil Fuel and Energy Use
The U.S. burns an enormous amount of fossil fuel in order to maintain its incredible rate of energy consumption. This excessive rate of fossil fuel consumption causes significant damage to the environment. Did you know that 17% of all fossil fuel used in the U.S. is consumed by the food production system?
Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering (GE) is the process of transferring genes from one plant or animal to another. The technology has not been properly tested, so no one knows if GE food is safe to eat. 70% of processed foods in American supermarkets now contain genetically modified ingredients.9 Currently, crops are genetically engineered; animals are next. The U.S. is pushing Europe to accept this technology, even though the majority of Europeans oppose it.
Health
Most people agree that sustainable, pasture-raised and organic foods are healthier and taste better than industrial food – scientific research is even starting to prove the health benefits. Unsustainable agriculture and factory farms also affect our health by increasing the amount of food borne pathogens, contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria, and through incubating infectious diseases that can be easily transmitted.
Hormones
Every year, approximately 36 million cattle are raised to provide beef for US consumers.10 Two-thirds of these cattle (about 24 million cows) are given hormones to help make them grow faster.11 Six hormones are implanted in beef cattle for no other reason than to make the cows grow faster so they can be sold sooner. The US government claims the hormones are safe, but the European Union has banned hormones in beef because their scientists have found a link between the hormones and cancer.
Loss of Family Farms
BarnFamily farmers are being forced out of business at an alarming rate. According to Farm Aid, 330 farmers leave their land every week. The dramatic expansion of industrial agriculture has made it increasingly difficult for small family farmers in the U.S. and due to the new European Common Agriculture Policy, a family farm disappears every three minutes in Europe.
Pesticides
According to the EPA, over 1 billion tons of pesticides are used in the U.S. every year.13 Pesticides are sprayed on produce sold to consumers, as well as on crops fed to farm animals. Residues are stored in the animals' fat and tissue, and enter our bodies when we eat the meat. Pesticides have been linked to many medical problems.
rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone)
rBGH, also known as BGH and BST, is a genetically engineered hormone injected into dairy cows for no other reason than to make them produce more milk. The hormone has not been properly tested for human safety and makes the animals more prone to illness and disease. In 2003, approximately 33% of the 9 million U.S. dairy cows were in herds treated with rBGH.14 So far, this hormone is banned in Europe.
Slaughterhouses and Processing
CAFOsThe meatpacking industry is dominated by a handful of corporations which handle massive quantities of meat at huge processing facilities. As a result of inadequate food safety standards and lax inspection practices, these corporations are able to operate unsanitary facilities which produce meat contaminated with the pathogens that cause foodborne illness.
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