Stanford Study - Approx. 1/3 Of Planet's Arable Land Devoted To Animal Feed Production

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Global meat production has tripled in the past three decades and could double its present level by 2050, according to a new report on the livestock industry by an international team of scientists and policy experts. The impact of this "livestock revolution" is likely to have significant consequences for human health, the environment and the global economy, the authors conclude.

"The livestock industry is massive and growing," said Harold A. Mooney, co-editor of the two-volume report, Livestock in a Changing Landscape (Island Press). Mooney is a professor of biology and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. "This is the first time that we've looked at the social, economic, health and environmental impacts of livestock in an integrated way and presented solutions for reducing the detrimental effects of the industry and enhancing its positive attributes," he said.

Among the key findings in the report are:

* More than 1.7 billion animals are used in livestock production worldwide and occupy more than one-fourth of the Earth's land.
* Production of animal feed consumes about one-third of total arable land.
* Livestock production accounts for approximately 40 percent of the global agricultural gross domestic product.
* The livestock sector, including feed production and transport, is responsible for about 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Impacts on humanity

Although about 1 billion poor people worldwide derive at least some part of their livelihood from domesticated animals, the rapid growth of commercialized industrial livestock has reduced employment opportunities for many, according to the report. In developing countries, such as India and China, large-scale industrial production has displaced many small, rural producers, who are under additional pressure from health authorities to meet the food safety standards that a globalized marketplace requires.

EDIT

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/march/livestock-revolution-environment-031610.html

[Ian David]

1. Doing my part by eating those animals before they eat too much of our grain.

That's why I love veal.

You eat 'em early, before they consume too much.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Of course, HUMAN populations have also skyrocketed -

are there any stats comparing the growth rates of the human and livestock populations?

I have a gut feeling that the growth in human population is far outstripping the growth in livestock production. A FEW of us are eating historically high amounts of livestock meat, while the majority are eating a lot less. These commercial producers are not raising beef to be sold in villages in Nigeria.

[Nihil]

4. Yep ...

... but a headline of "Approx. 2/3 Of Planet's Arable Land Devoted
To Human Feed Production" isn't as catchy and pro-vegan.

I don't care for factory-farmed meat anyway (organic, free-range or nothing)
so I wouldn't be at all upset if the "1/3" went down but making a show over
the increase in food animal population without acknowledging the increase
in human population is a little bit ... well, you know ...

:shrug:

[eppur_se_muova]

3. but but but vegetarianism is extremism! nt

:sarcasm: <-- I feel sorry for you if you actually need this