Forecasting Potential Global Environmental Costs Of Livestock Production 2000-2050
This paper discusses environmental implications of the farmed animal industry and presents statistics that call the sustainability of the industry into question. This research suggests that if consumption of farmed animals continues to increase, the environment will be fatally impacted at both the local and global levels.
Even conservative projections predict that the size of the farmed animal industry will double in the next 50 years. This industry will likely account for 72% of humanity’s total “safe operating space” for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, 88% of safe operating space for biomass appropriation, and about 300% of the safe operating space for reactive nitrogen mobilization.
Industrially produced nitrogen is a major component of the commercial fertilizer that is used in producing crops and pastures for farmed animals. While 10-20% of the nitrogen applied to crops is consumed by humans, the rest escapes to the environment, where excess amounts can lead to loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems.
About 60% of the biomass harvested each year to support all human activities is consumed by the farmed animal industries. This research paper suggests that people should consume protein as part of a balanced diet, but over-consumption can lead to global environmental problems. Alternative sources of proteins that have smaller environmental impacts are encouraged in order to avoid devastating global ecosystems.