The livestock sector results in environmental destruction and human rights abuses which directly impact the health, homes and livelihoods of others - creating poverty, hunger and conflict.

The livestock sector is a major cause of climate change; responsible for 37% of the world’s methane (which has 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide) and 65% of the world’s nitrous oxide (265 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide), which are produced by ruminants and their manure (1).

Another of the main contributors to climate change, which is strongly linked to livestock production, is deforestation, which accounts for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions (2). It is no surprise to hear that clearing forests for cattle grazing and growing soy to feed animals are leading causes of deforestation in the Amazon region. In September 2009 Greenpeace also exposed the New Zealand dairy industry for their part in fuelling forest destruction in Indonesia and Malaysia; the country imports a quarter of the world’s Palm Kernel Expeller to feed its animals.

In total, the livestock sector is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gases, more than all the cars, planes and buses in the world (3).

A predicted 200 million will be displaced by 2050 due to climate change (4) and already 150,000 people die each year due to climate change (5). Ironically, it is those least responsible for climate change who suffer most from it’s consequences. But eventually it will catch up with us all – unless we take action now.

As the Amazon forest is destroyed, many of the tens of thousands of species of plant, mammals, fish and birds come under severe threat of extinction (6). As key species are wiped out, this disrupts the natural balance of the ecosystem.

Due to the services that ecosystems provide, such as purifying water, absorbing carbon, mitigating floods and droughts and pollinating plants, biodiversity is crucial for human survival. The monetary value of these services is invaluable.

The livestock sector is by far the main consumer of soy and therefore the primary reason why massive, intensive soy mono-plantations exist. These plantations, primarily based in Latin America, produce cheap soy for animal feed and are run by powerful and unscrupulous transnational corporations. These corporations have forced their way in to developing countries and replaced local, small scale farming and natural habitats (particularly forests) with plantations, causing much conflict and unrest.

The local communities rely on their small farms, so replacing them with plantations not only means destroying livelihoods and creating poverty but also exacerbating world hunger, as local food sources are wiped out in favour of exportation to rich nations to feed animals. For example, in Argentina, 15 million people (38.5% of the population) live below the poverty line and many suffer from malnutrition, yet the country produces millions of tonnes of soy - and exports 92% of it, predominantly to feed animals (7).

The plantations use vast amounts of pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers which pollute the waterways and poison animals and people; causing illness and often death of the young and frail (8). People working on the plantations or who live nearby are particularly at risk of contact with the toxic chemicals because of the crop spraying planes. Cancer rates in these areas are increasing.

The main crops used for animal feed are soy and corn, much of which are genetically modified. In the US, 92% of soy is GM (9) in Argentina almost 100%, Paraguay around 80% and in Brazil over 30% (10). GM crops have actually caused an increase in use of chemical pesticides. As GM crops are controlled by immoral, power hungry corporations such as Monsanto, grown in massive plantations and fed to animals, they only benefit the corporations not people.

Find out about how consumption of animal products affects health.

Cattle ranching is also responsible for the highest rates of slave labour in Brazil (11). Soy plantations also often involve forced labour and poor working conditions (12).

Jobs in the livestock industry are amongst the most undesirable and dangerous in the world. A high percentage of workers are immigrants often abused due to their poor understanding of their rights and language barriers (13). Workers in slaughterhouses and meat processing warehouses are pushed to work faster and faster with dangerous equipment which often results exhaustion and injury (14). In the UK, the most common injuries include casualties involving the use of knives, bandsaws, skinning machines and packaging machinery; slipping on greasy floors; falls from height and exposure to harmful substances and hot objects (15).

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The impacts of the livestock sector are far reaching and those who consume animal products directly contribute to these problems by creating and maintaining a demand for it. However, it is one of the simplest industries to remove yourself from completely. It is near impossible to stop using oil and fossil fuels and certainly takes some preparation and expense, but with the livestock industry you just need to stop eating meat, dairy and eggs and you can do that immediately with no preparation or extra cost.

The UN predicts that global meat consumption will double by 2050 (16). We cannot allow this to happen and we have the power to stop it; each of us, as individuals. Of all our food choices, going vegan has the greatest potential to create a better world, far more so than eating organic or locally produced food.

The most environmentally responsible and ethical dietary choice is a vegan diet. It may seem a daunting task at first, but take it a step at a time and you’ll discover how easy it is. There are plenty of resources available to help you get there. Every step you take towards adopting a vegan diet is a step in the right direction.

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References

1. Livestock’s Long Shadow. UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 2006.
2. Livestock’s Long Shadow. UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 2006.
3. Livestock’s Long Shadow. UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 2006.
4. Environmental refugees: an emergent security issue. Myers, N. 2005.
5. World Health Organisation. 2000.
6. Amazon Cattle Footprint. Greenpeace. 2009.
7. Who benefits from GM crops? Friends of the Earth International. 2007.
8. Who benefits from GM crops? The Rise in Pesticide use. The Rise in Pesticide Use. Friends of the Earth International. 2009.
9. US Department of Agriculture
10. Who Benefits from GM crops? Friends of the Earth International. 2006.
11. Amazon Cattle Footprint. Greenpeace. 2009.
12. Eating up the Amazon. Greenpeace. 2006.
13. Blood, sweat and fear: Worker’s rights in US meat and poultry plants. . 2005. Human Rights Watch
14. Blood, sweat and fear: Worker’s rights in US meat and poultry plants. . 2005. Human Rights Watch
15. Health and Safety priorities in the meat processing industry. Health and Safety Executive. UK.
16. Livestock’s Long Shadow. UN Food and Agriculture Organization. 2006.