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==Impacts on the environment== | |||
The environmental impact of meat production greatly depends on factors such as: | |||
* the type of meat/animal,<ref>[http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/008096.html Cows Aren't Part of a Climate-Healthy Diet, Study Says]</ref><ref>According to [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03016226/96/1 Livestock Farming Systems and their Environmental Impacts] (see Quest magazine, september 2009): | |||
* 1 kg of porc meat produced 3,9 to 10 kg CO², 8,9 to 12,1 m² of land is required (land use) | |||
* 1 kg of beef (cattle) produced 14 to 32 kg CO², 27 to 49 m² of land is required (land use) | |||
* 1 kg of milk produced 0,8 to 1,3 kg CO², 1,1 to 2 m² of land is required (land use) | |||
* 1 kg of chicken meat produced 3,7 to 6,9 kg CO², 8,1 to 9,9 m² of land is required (land use) | |||
* 1 kg of eggs produced 3,9 to 4,9 kg CO², 4,5 to 6,2 m² of land is required (land use) | |||
A car generates 1 kg of co² per 6 km</ref><ref>http://edepot.wur.nl/138168 and http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141309003692</ref> | |||
* the feed used | |||
However, regardless of these factors, traditional meat production will still have following negative effects: | |||
* Production of methane by ruminants (mainly cows). Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Is this worse for grain-fed cattle than for grass-fed cattle?{{sp}} | |||
* Destruction of natural habitat to create land for cattle | |||
* Destruction of natural habitat (e.g. rainforest) to grow food for cattle. | |||
* Competition for food with humans - this means that wealthier people eating lots of meat increases the price of agricultural produce, which makes life harder for poorer people. This may not be an issue where: | |||
** The animals live on scraps | |||
** The animals live on other feed which humans do not eat, e.g. grass (cattle), household scraps (pigs, goats, chickens) and insects and seeds found in a garden (chickens, ducks). | |||
[[Category:Food choices]] | [[Category:Food choices]] | ||
Revision as of 08:08, 9 November 2012
Impacts on the environment
The environmental impact of meat production greatly depends on factors such as:
However, regardless of these factors, traditional meat production will still have following negative effects:
- Production of methane by ruminants (mainly cows). Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Is this worse for grain-fed cattle than for grass-fed cattle?[expansion needed]
- Destruction of natural habitat to create land for cattle
- Destruction of natural habitat (e.g. rainforest) to grow food for cattle.
- Competition for food with humans - this means that wealthier people eating lots of meat increases the price of agricultural produce, which makes life harder for poorer people. This may not be an issue where:
- The animals live on scraps
- The animals live on other feed which humans do not eat, e.g. grass (cattle), household scraps (pigs, goats, chickens) and insects and seeds found in a garden (chickens, ducks).
- ↑ Cows Aren't Part of a Climate-Healthy Diet, Study Says
- ↑ According to Livestock Farming Systems and their Environmental Impacts (see Quest magazine, september 2009):
- 1 kg of porc meat produced 3,9 to 10 kg CO², 8,9 to 12,1 m² of land is required (land use)
- 1 kg of beef (cattle) produced 14 to 32 kg CO², 27 to 49 m² of land is required (land use)
- 1 kg of milk produced 0,8 to 1,3 kg CO², 1,1 to 2 m² of land is required (land use)
- 1 kg of chicken meat produced 3,7 to 6,9 kg CO², 8,1 to 9,9 m² of land is required (land use)
- 1 kg of eggs produced 3,9 to 4,9 kg CO², 4,5 to 6,2 m² of land is required (land use)
- ↑ http://edepot.wur.nl/138168 and http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141309003692