The Environment and Modern Agriculture Lorena Mucke Resources Water Resources Land Resources Water Land Fossil fuels Resources Water Did you know that you save more water by not eating a pound of beef than not showering for a whole year? Resources Water Did you know that you save more water by not eating a pound of beef than not showering for a whole year? Water involved in modern agriculture: -cattle need water for sustenance -cattle need crops to eat (crops need water) -water is needed to clean the filth of factory farms, transport trucks and slaughterhouses Resources Water Water needed to produce 1 pound of wheat: 25 gallons Water needed to produce 1 pound of meat: 2,500 gallons About 70% of the water used in the 11 western states is dedicated to the raising of animals for food. Resources Water VEGETARIAN DIET MEAT-BASED DIET VEGETARIAN DIET MEAT-BASED DIET 300 gal water per day vs. 4,000 gallons of water per day Resources Land Resources Topsoil thickness in U.S. 500 years ago: 6 feet Topsoil thickness today: 6 inches 40 % of the soil worldwide is already degraded Resources Land (Apple activity) Resources Fossil Fuels Resources Approx 20% of all fossils fuels currently used in the US goes to raise animals for food. Resources Fossil Fuels Approx 20% of all fossils fuels currently used in the US goes to raise animals for food. Raising animals for food involves: growing crops (tilling, irrigation, crop dusters, etc.) transporting the grain and soybeans to manufacturers of feed operating the feed mills, which requires massive amounts of energy transporting the feed to the factory farms operating the factory farms transporting the animals through long distance to slaughter operating the slaughterhouse transporting the meat to processing plants operating the meat-processing plants transporting the meat to grocery stores keeping the meat refrigerated or frozen in the stores, until it's sold. Why raising animals for food is so inefficient? It takes up to 16 pounds of grains to produce 1 pound of meat Approx. 70% of grains in the US are fed to animals raised for food Approx. 50% of the water consumed in the US are used by the meat industry - Milk crate activity Egg-laying Hens Foi Grass Swine Farms Dairy Farm Veal Production Intensive Modern Agriculture Sewage systems in US cities: Common Sewage systems in US feedlots: None - Video: The True Cost of Food (Sierra Club) Major causes of death in America Cancer: smoking causes 30% of cancer deaths, and contributes significantly to heart disease and strokes, however, it is estimated that approximately 30-50% of cancers can be prevented through a healthy, low fat, high in fruits and vegetables diet (American Cancer Society) Obesity: roughly 30% of adults in the US are obese and 15% of children, and is largely associated with high-calorie, high fat, low-cost foods (American Obesity Association) Major causes of death in America Cancer: smoking causes 30% of cancer deaths, and contributes significantly to heart disease and strokes, however, it is estimated that approximately 30-50% of cancers can be prevented through a healthy, low fat, high in fruits and vegetables diet (American Cancer Society) Obesity: roughly 30% of adults in the US are obese and 15% of children, and is largely associated with high-calorie, high fat, low-cost foods (American Obesity Association) Heart disease: 80-90% of heart attacks can be prevented through a healthy, low fat, plant-based diet (American Heart Society) Major causes of death in America (continued) Food borne diseases: A great percentage of food poisoning cases are a result of animal products intake (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Major causes of death in America (continued) Food borne diseases: A great percentage of food poisoning cases are a result of animal products intake (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Diabetes: Diabetes mellitus is associated with high cholesterol levels and obesity. A healthy, low fat, plant-based diet can help prevention (American Diabetic Association). Major causes of death in America (continued) Food borne diseases: A great percentage of food poisoning cases are a result of animal products intake (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Diabetes: Diabetes mellitus is associated with high cholesterol levels and obesity. A healthy, low fat, plant-based diet can help prevention (American Diabetic Association). Osteoporosis: the US has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis in the world (considered a health threat for 55% of people over 50), as well as one of the highest rates of dairy products intake. Loss of calcium is associated with a high intake of animal products (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) THE END (THANK YOU!!!!)