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The Cost of Consumption: Pollution of the Livestock Industry

The Cost of Consumption: Pollution of the Livestock Industry. Clemente Velasco-Annis University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Livestock. Estimated 1.3 billion cattle worldwide 26 % of the world’s landmass US Cattle and Beef Industry in 2010: $74 Billion. Impact. Greenhouse Gasses

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The Cost of Consumption: Pollution of the Livestock Industry

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  1. The Cost of Consumption: Pollution of the Livestock Industry Clemente Velasco-Annis University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  2. Livestock • Estimated 1.3 billion cattle worldwide • 26% of the world’s landmass • US Cattle and Beef Industry in 2010: • $74 Billion

  3. Impact • Greenhouse Gasses • Climate change and air pollution • Deforestation • Grazing land and degradation • Water Pollution • Water depletion and poisoning • Loss in Biodiversity • Policy Options

  4. Greenhouse Gasses • Energy reflecting off of Earth is trapped by greenhouse gasses inside the atmosphere. • Enteric Fermentation • CO2, CH4, NO2 through belching • In 2002, created 5.5 million tons of methane in the US • 19% of the country’s methane emissions for the year. • Emission through manure • 4% of the country’s methane emissions for the year. • Global CO2 emissions due to livestock processing: ~10 million tons / 30 million tons. • Due to processed livestock transport: 0.8 million tons • 65% of global NO2 emissions • 64% of ammonia emissions

  5. Deforestation • 26% of the world’s landmass and increasing • Pasture • “Feedcrop” land • Inflated price of land • Intensification • Multiple cropping • Shorter fallow period • Demand for meat • Consequences of intensifiation” • Erosion • Decreased soil fertility • Reduced biodiversity • Eutrophication of rivers and lakes • Pollution from application of fertilizers and degradation of land. Deforestation in the Amazon rain forest for grazing and feedcrop land

  6. Water Pollution • 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh water • 70% of freshwater dedicated to agriculture • Water use increasing • Population of people living in water-stressed areas increasing. • Feeding livestock • Cleaning and processing • Runoff from feeding area • Over abundance of N and P in nearby bodies of water. • Diseases transferred through water (for drinking or further for livestock processing. • Feedcrop watering • 45% of agriculture use water is for feedcrop

  7. Biodiversity • Habitat and climate change • Invasive species • Narrowing genetic base of livestock and crops • Overexploitation • Competition with wildlife • Direct competition • Indirect competition over food and water • Pollution The endangered Peruvian Plantcutter of the Amazon Rain Forest

  8. Policy Options • Greenhouse gasses • Sequestering emissions • Improved diets • Improved manure management • Water depletion/poisoning • Improved efficiency • Improved waste management • Land use • Limitations on livestock land requirements • Correcting distorted land prices • Institutional development • Awareness building, education and information

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