Corruption of Consumption - Kelly Fox, Alex Goswick, Madison Olsen, James Terrell (Group 1)2/2/2018 Livestock are typically consuming corn, soybeans and other grains that require over 160 million pounds of pesticides and around 17 billion pounds of fertilizer, yearly. In order to grow these grains, around 149 million acres of land is required, as well as using of one-third of the world’s fresh water. – Scientific American “People should consume 33-66 pounds of meat per year. Americans typically eat around 184 pounds compared to French citizens’ yearly 35-pound consumption habits. However, we cannot rule out livestock and meat production completely.” - Scientist Vaclav Smil, Should We Eat Meat? Evolution and Consequences of Modern Carnivory “Animals eat products that people may not typically eat and expose consumers to energy they may not have gotten otherwise. Additionally, animals are key fertilizers for the soil, which lightens the usage of chemicals and pesticides”. - UC-Davis science professor Frank Mitloehner The meat industry is complex in terms of the economy and the importance that animals have on the environment. Therefore, consuming meat can be sustainable, just in moderation. Some tips to decrease consumption include: - Buy local products - Look for organic labels, which means that the animals had access to pastures - Eat poultry or pork. Only contribute to 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions - Time Magazine
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AuthorsThese blog posts are written by students in the POL 327 Spring 2017 class. Archives |