Feeding the world without factory farming
We don’t need to be cruel to farm animals to feed people, now or in the future. That’s the conclusion of Eating the Planet, our latest research commissioned jointly with Friends of the Earth.
The report outlines the ultimate win-win scenario: feeding the world’s population in 2050 without intensive agriculture is not only good for animal welfare but also provides environmental benefits such as promoting biodiversity and reducing pollution.
All of this is extremely heartening news because two out of every three farm animals worldwide are currently in factory farms. Some policy makers wrongly suggest the only way to feed a burgeoning human population is to condemn even more farm animals to a life of unimaginable suffering. Now we have detailed proof to strongly refute this argument.
READ FOR YOURSELF
The report, produced by the Institute of Social Ecology in Austria and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, is clear about the challenge. Our planet is under increasing pressure. We face the double-whammy of increasing human land use and climate change. Both may well undermine our ability to feed everyone. Feeding the world sustainably, fairly and humanely in the coming decades, as the report says, is therefore “one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.”
The key findings are:
- Feeding the world in 2050 is possible without using the most intensive forms of animal and crop production or a massive expansion of land for farming
- Humane methods of farming animals can provide sufficient food to feed a growing world population
- Providing sufficient food for all would be helped greatly if rich countries adopt healthier, lower meat-based diets and food is distributed more equally
- Sufficient food can be provided in 2050 without further deforestation.
Eating the planet offers a number of urgent policy recommendations. These include a call to governments and intergovernmental agencies, such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, to set targets and incentives to support the shift toward what it describes as “lower-input, extensive livestock production.” It also encourages governments to support meat-reduction strategies to help reduce animal stocking densities and move from intensive to more animal-friendly extensive methods.
Factory farming is the engine-room of the global livestock explosion. It not only causes huge suffering to billions of sentient creatures but also wastes precious resources such as grain and oil. What is so ground-breaking about this new study is that it clearly shows factory farming as a huge mistake for today and tomorrow. To feed the world we must switch to a form of agriculture which is better for animal welfare, gentler on the planet and enables us to feed the world’s population.
FREE TO DOWNLOAD
This report can be downloaded for free using the links below. Due to the file sizes, we would recommend right-clicking and saving to your computer.
Subtitle: "How we can feed the world without trashing it?"
20 page summary
5 page question and answer document
Subtitle: "Feeding and fuelling the world sustainably, fairly and humanely– a scoping study"
134 page report published November 2009
TAKE ACTION – SPREAD THE WORD
We will use this report extensively in our campaigning and lobbying work nationally and internationally. Please help us make sure this report and its vitally important messages are read as widely as possible and acted upon by governments worldwide. Please consider forwarding the report onto your friends, family, colleagues, MP and MEP:
Compassion in World Farming exists to end factory farming and advance the wellbeing of farm animals worldwide. This latest report points the way to achieving our goal.
If you agree with us, please support us today.
Commissioning ground-breaking scientific reports is just one of the things that our supporters help us to do. Your donation could help end farm animal cruelty and help us stop factory farming in its tracks.
We receive no government funding so rely entirely on the generosity of our supporters to prevent cruelty to farm animals all over the world.
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Tell us what you think
If you have read the report or its summary and want to share your opinions, please feel free to email us here or post your comments on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/farm.animals.