The Cost of Consumption: Pollution of the Livestock Industry

Clemente Velasco-AnnisUniversity 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– Climate change and air

pollution• Deforestation

– Grazing land and degradation

• Water Pollution– Water depletion and

poisoning• Loss in Biodiversity• Policy Options

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

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

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

Biodiversity

The endangered Peruvian Plantcutter of the Amazon Rain Forest

•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

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