SEC-S14/W4 - Sustainable Animal Productivity and Environmental Footprint Towards Global Food Security

Apologies for any inconvenience, but I am not really sorry for starting this challenge with these words of @bambuka

At the same time, all media resources continue to impose a consumption model, and only enthusiasts care about the real ecology. Just don't talk about different green parties. It's about politics.

Nasty Thoughts

This post is one month old, but I have been reflecting on its contents and my dialogue with the author (in replies) in certain instances. Then again today, when I was looking for an inspiration to write, I came across this engagement challenge, and believe me, the first thought that came to my mind was his words. I don't know why it seemed so relevant - you can check out his post. Hence the apologies for starting this challenge in yet another non-traditional way. I may again quote a thing or two from his post.

Now coming to the actual topic i.e. Sustainable Animal Productivity and Environmental Footprint Towards Global Food Security.

It looks like a complicated one, so for understandability, and more clarity, I will break it down into three sub headings and then will approach the topic with correlation of each one of these with the other.

• sustainable animal productivity
• environmental footprint
• global food security

Sustainable Animal Productivity:

Refers to the practice of maintaining or increasing the output of animal-related products (such as meat, milk, wool, or eggs) in a way that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable over the long term. This concept emphasizes the need to balance the production of animal-derived goods with considerations for environmental conservation, animal welfare, and the well-being of communities involved in animal farming.

Environmental Footprint:

In the context of animal productivity, the "environmental footprint" relates to the overall impact of livestock farming on the environment. This includes considerations such as greenhouse gas emissions, land use, water consumption, and other ecological factors associated with animal agriculture. Efforts to improve sustainable animal productivity aim to minimize this environmental footprint by adopting practices that reduce resource consumption, mitigate pollution, and promote ecological balance within the farming system.

Global Food Security:

Refers to the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. Achieving global food security involves addressing issues such as food production, distribution, affordability, and nutritional quality on a worldwide scale, while considering the impact of factors like climate change, population growth, and economic disparities. It is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts across nations and sectors to ensure a sustainable and equitable food supply for the global population and for future generations.

These three terms are inter-related and their effects can be studied by analyzing their relation with each other.

Sustainable animal productivity has a direct impact on environment. Pollution and deforestation are one of the biggest footprints that this increased production of animals have on our environment. All of the livestock being raised throughout the world produce enormous amounts of manure and urine, which in turn pollute natural resources.

Deforestation is brought about by different direct and indirect consequences of animal productivity, for example:

• Land Conversion: Animal productivity drives agricultural expansion, contributing to deforestation through land conversion for grazing areas and crops used in feed production. Extensive forms of animal farming, requiring large land areas, further exacerbate deforestation by converting natural ecosystems into grazing areas.

• Supply Chains: Global supply chains associated with animal products may directly or indirectly contribute to environmental footprint as products from deforested areas enter the supply chain.

Link

Now comes the next part of the debate, which is ensuring Global Food Security amidst these challenges of environmental footprint due to increased animal productivity. To tackle the situation of pollution and deforestation, following approach maybe considered.

Source

• Implementing pollution control regulations across industries and agriculture.

• Investing in green technologies.

• Collaborating globally to address transboundary environmental issues.

• Developing incentives for eco-friendly practices, supporting both sustainability and global food security initiatives.

• Conduct ongoing research to assess progress and identify areas for improvement.

• Promoting a circular economy to reduce waste and encourage recycling. I think, recycling is by far the most important factor to minimize pollution in any aspect, area or industry.

The main steps to secure food availability (animal/ plant sources) according to Wageningen article include:

• reducing food waste
• improving infrastructure
• promoting fair trading practices
• diversifying crops
• reducing yield gaps
• combating climate change
• addressing indirect causes of food insecurity.

Hence, the four pillars of food security are availability, access, utilization, and stability.

Ensuring animal welfare is very essential for food security, as it directly influences the safety and quality of food production. A balanced approach involves proper care and living conditions, contributing to sustainable agriculture and a resilient food supply chain.

Additionally, recognizing the environmental impacts of policy frameworks is crucial, and achieving a balance between efficient food production and minimal environmental impact requires sector-specific assessments. Scientific research, focusing on elements like Water Footprint (WFP), Carbon Footprint (CF), and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), guides policy decisions. Trade-offs, such as the dilemma of replacing fishmeal/fish-oil with vegetal ingredients in aqua-feed production, highlight the need for careful consideration.

This Study👆 emphasizes the potential of lacto-vegetarian diets to feed more people sustainably, underlining the importance of responsible protein production.

These suggestions of lacto-vegetarian options for food consumption are highly debatable and give rise to controversies, personal and religious preferences, and endless debates. I'm no expert to validate or give opinions on such topics. For example, there is one sect or group of people that is entirely vegetarian and advocates not killing animals, stating it is cruel - environmental motivations include the desire to reduce the ecological footprint associated with meat production, among many other reasons. My question to these people: the amount of pesticides used to produce all your healthy vegetables and crops... what are their effects? Listen, listen, there is one more point. Are those pests not animals? Don't they feel pain?

I'm all for personal preferences, but please don't make a cult out of these preferences and likings.

Or as Bambuka points out in his article in response of a book published by some wannabe environmentalist "Childfree against childless", in which she calls for giving up having children in order to preserve the ecology on the planet:

All those who call not to give birth are in no hurry to meet God themselves (they know that the devil is waiting for them with a frying pan), they forget that they were given life at one time. What ingratitude... or it's all about money...

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_{P.S.: I apologize for the lengthy post and bombardment of information - but when dealing with a topic like this, it's like navigating a vast sea, and here poor me, attempting to seal this sea within a small bottle! I've carefully edited and re-edited to include only the most pertinent information. Thank you so much for your patience :)}

I extend special thanks to Bambuka for consenting to the use of quotes from his article.

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References:

• article
• article
• Wageningen article
• several web pages