Risks of Industrial Farming

Throughout the recent years, the industrial farming industry has skyrocketed. There are now predominately ONLY industrial farms (excluding some privately owned farms) where animals are in tightly packed situations, only to fulfill an insane demand of meat. These environments are so tight that animals such as cows, chickens, and pigs are not able to engage in their proper animal behavior or habitat. Not only does this type of farming degrade the animals, but it also has major risks to our environment and our individual health. As I have learned about this process of Industrial Animal Farming, via the textbook Food, Ethics, and Society, I have become keenly aware to the growing problems that exist within this industry. My aim is to allow my reader to become more educated and aware to this growing issue in our society, and in this article, more aware of the risks associated to the environment. I also seek to inform my readers how important it is to support local, sustainable farmers if the opportunity exists. Let’s get into it!

Health Risks

Communities that fall in proximity to the Industrial Farm Animal Production (IFAP) sites, have major risks to their health and well being. These people groups can be exposed to a variety of different factors, such as air emissions and water contamination. In fact, individuals with “chronic or acute pulmonary or heart disorders are at particularly high risk” of infection. Due to the high air emissions caused by these “farms,” people exposed can develop “respiratory symptoms, disease and impaired function, and/or neurobehavioral symptoms…” (Humane Society) This poses a particularly dangerous environment for the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing conditions. “Air quantity degradation is also a problem in and around IFAP facilities because of the localized release of significant quantities of toxic gases, odors substances, and participates and bioaerosols that contain a variety of microorganisms including human pathogens.”(Humane Society) These toxic substances floating in the air not only pose extreme health risks for humans, but also the the earth as a whole. 

Environmental Risks

According to the 2006 UN report, “globally, green house gases emissions from all livestock operations count for 18% of all the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions - exceeding those from the transportation sector.”(Humane Society) Here are some statistics that will blow your mind:

All plane emissions globally: 2% of all GHG emissions (Humane Society)

All road transportation globally (including cards, buses, etc.): 10% of all GHG emissions (Humane Society)

Industrial Farm Animal Production: 15-18% of all GHG emissions (Humane Society)

“Globally, consuming animal products in an even larger contributor to climate change than driving automobiles.” (Humane Society) 

As well as the high air emissions from IFAP, there is also the fact of the access animal waste. There is so much animal waste that the “volume exceeds the amount that can be properly absorbed in the ground for fertilizer and neutralizing pathogens.” (Humane Society) Animal waste from specifically IFAP areas exceeds humans by at least 3 times. 3 TIMES!! What could have been used as fertilizer to help make the farmland better is now having to be disposed of with no positive impact implemented. With most of the manure left on the ground and not able to be absorbed, it is washed away into the waterways, ground water, soil, lakes, and drainage systems. Not only does the manure have harmful pathogens, but it also carries farm chemicals and other toxic materials to the water. Toxic materials such as antibiotics, heavy metals, hormones, and pesticides. (Humane Society) When this happens, a process called Eutrophication happens. “Eutrophication is a process of excess nutrients in a body of water consisting of nitrates and phosphates, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of aquatic animal life due to the lack of oxygen.” (Humane Society) Again, doing much more harm then good. Additionally, the land is being monopolized for money instead of being used for wildlife to thrive. As the demand continues to rise for animal products, so does the demand for land to farm these animals on. This leads to forests being burned down, loss of animal habitat, loss of biodiversity, loss of carbon sinks that clean out green house gases from the atmosphere, with the “replacement of them with sources of green house gases, as agriculture fields are net emitters.”(Humane Society)

All of this information may come as a shock to you — I know I was shocked. The root of the issue is that, we as the American people, need to be more conscious of the decisions we are making by buying and supporting certain industries. I hope this information can be used as a catalyst for more education and knowledge for you, your family, and your buying decisions. 

This information was sourced from this Humane Society Document inside the textbook Food, Ethics, and Society (PDF): https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/hsus-report-welfare-animals-meat-egg-dairy-industry.pdf

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