Ecological Consumption in Terms of Food

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Ecological Consumption in Terms of Food

Table of Contents

Introduction
Animal Products
Animal Husbandry and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Water Consumption
Use of the Earths Surface
Animal Husbandry and Morality
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Ecology is a field of study that deals with the relationships between organisms and their environment. It is concerned with how organisms interact with each other and their physical surroundings. Ecological consumption has become an important area of research in recent years because it addresses the relationship between human consumption and environmental degradation. The role of consumer behavior in environmental degradation and that consumers significantly impact natural resources and health through their everyday choices. Ecological consumption can be applied to many products or services, such as food, clothing, or transportation. This paper will focus on food and its relation to ecology, precisely, how eating certain types of food can harm the ecosystem while eating other types can help sustain the ecosystems health.

Animal Products

Today, the production of meat, fish, seafood, and milk is a massive industry that, for its benefit, is ready to make significant environmental sacrifices, explained by the massive need of people for such food. Unfortunately, most do agree with the far-fetched need for such products. In addition, as in any other business, the critical role here is played by the factor of money, with the amount of which the meat producers have no problems due to the scale and demand (Xue et al. 117968). As a result, the industry is gaining support at all levels, from the public to politicians, and continues to thrive.

Animal Husbandry and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As has long been known, animal husbandry has a significant impact on the environment. Animal husbandry leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions for natural reasons: carbon dioxide due to the respiration of animals and methane due to the digestive activity of ruminants (Xue et al. 117968). Thus, the industry, which is aimed at one of the basic types of consumption, namely food, has a devastating effect on the environment. This same methane has a much more significant impact on the temperature increase on Earth than CO2, but it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter time (Xue et al. 117968). Thus, every person who eats meat unintentionally harms the environment, satisfying one of the basic needs.

Water Consumption

The maintenance of animals consumes a considerable amount of water, which is spent on growing crops, drinking, washing, and other related processes. This use of one of the most valuable resources is naturally not optimal. The development of animal husbandry has led to the fact that most of the water today is not consumed by people for direct drinking and personal household needs but for cattle breeding (Xue et al. 117968). Estimates vary widely on the amount of water required to produce meat, but everyone agrees that it is a colossal cost.

Use of the Earths Surface

Pastures, farms, and other livestock land occupy a significant part of the planet and lead to land degradation. In addition to damaging landscapes, pastoralism also causes the misallocation of resources on earth and, as a result, famine in many parts of the globe. With the development of animal husbandry and the growth of the population of the planet, it is becoming increasingly difficult to feed 7 billion people (Sanchez-Sabate and Sabaté 1220). However, instead of growing edible fruits to feed a person who consumes much less, humanity grows fodder crops for livestock. The production of animal products is a costly process in terms of the generated waste, which, as it is known, always needs to be put somewhere. Whole ponds of animal excrement accumulate substances such as ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide, nitrates, heavy metals, and bacteria (Xue et al. 117968). All these substances are dangerous for humans and the environment and can lead to environmental disasters.

Animal Husbandry and Morality

The ethical side of animal husbandry deserves special attention. It is also directly related to ecology, which is not limited to climate change, natural resources, and the state of flora. Living organisms are an integral part of ecology, and the attitude toward them is an essential indicator of environmental awareness. If one looks at the problem globally, it is essential not so much a specific number as the very existence of such activities. Today, humanity does not need to breed, exploit, and kill animals to meet basic needs everything has analogs (Sanchez-Sabate and Sabaté 1220). Moreover, these are not just experimental or somehow worse alternatives but have long become the norm for many people worldwide who are entirely healthy and prosperous in generally accepted social criteria. The popularity of the vegan movement, which today includes many famous personalities, proves there is a choice.

If one closes their eyes to the cruel process of killing a living creature, then the forcible involuntary keeping of an animal in terrible conditions is no less severe. Cows stand in stalls all their lives, tied to their place, and newborn calves are taken immediately after birth so that the milk intended for them is delivered to a person (Sanchez-Sabate and Sabaté 1220). Chickens live in cages so close that each bird has an area the size of one landscape sheet, and so that they do not cling to each other, parts of their beak are cut off. In addition, birds are force-fed and pumped with antibiotics to quickly gain weight, resulting in the inability to walk due to bones underdevelopment (Sanchez-Sabate and Sabaté 1220). Tiny piglets are castrated without anesthesia for rapid weight gain. Many other facts about animal cruelty, which have almost the same nervous system as humans, feel pain and suffering.

Conclusion

The example of the meat industry clearly shows how consumption has a negative impact on the environment. However, unlike other areas of consumption, such as fashion, food is an essential and basic need of any person. Although one can refuse meat in this example, this solution is not suitable for everyone. Thus, veganism is one possible solution to the problem of overconsumption in this area. Of course, it is impossible to make all people vegan by force since this is the choice of everyone, and therefore, all hope falls on individuals ready to give up meat to save the planet. After all, if the demand falls, then the supply of goods will fall. Thus, meat companies will have to reduce the production volume by reducing the animal population. However, this decision is paradoxical because there is no other option than to arrange a genocide of cows. Otherwise, it will lead to uncontrolled reproduction of animals, provided they are released into the wild. A pacifist solution to this problem may only exacerbate it, but perhaps it will be a minor sacrifice to save the entire planet.

Works Cited

Xue, Yu-nan, et al. Environmental and Economic Benefits of Carbon Emission Reduction in Animal Husbandry via the Circular Economy: Case Study of Pig Farming in Liaoning, China. Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 238, 2019, p. 117968., Web.

Sanchez-Sabate, Ruben, and Joan Sabaté. Consumer Attitudes Towards Environmental Concerns of Meat Consumption: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 7, 2019, p. 1220., Web.