Animal Agriculture and Sustainability
Session Title
Sustainability, Access, and the Environment
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty Mentor
Ginger Williams, Ph.D.
Abstract
The topic for this paper is animal agriculture’s impact on sustainability. The rise in animal agriculture leads to a rise in climate change, deforestation, and more environmental issues that affect the human race on an everyday basis, whether we realize it or not. For example, a major issue surrounding animal agriculture is the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into our atmosphere. As these gases are emitted, we notice a rise in global temperature, leading to global warming. This in turn can lead to species dying, water temperatures rising, icebergs melting, etc. Due to a large number of animal farms, we notice a decline in sustainability, and it is about time we act on finding more sustainable and ethical ways to produce the food we need without further damaging our world. Therefore, the question is: How can we prevent animal agriculture from causing any further decline in sustainability? In order to answer this question, it is crucial to use an interdisciplinary method. The first discipline is environmental science. With a vast knowledge of the environment, sustainability, and the world as a whole, environmentalists have been able to show the direct effects of animal agriculture. Environmental scientists are the experts who study the rise in global warming and patterns of GHG emissions and study the food patterns throughout the world. The second discipline is agriculture science. This discipline gives insight on the specifics of animal agriculture. From the farming methods practiced to the harmful effects on the environment, this discipline specifies just what about animal agriculture is so harmful toward the environment. After researching, I propose that we can lower the harmful effects of animal agriculture on the environment by reducing meat consumption, practicing productivity-based farming, and utilizing appropriate minerals.
Start Date
24-4-2020 12:00 AM
Animal Agriculture and Sustainability
The topic for this paper is animal agriculture’s impact on sustainability. The rise in animal agriculture leads to a rise in climate change, deforestation, and more environmental issues that affect the human race on an everyday basis, whether we realize it or not. For example, a major issue surrounding animal agriculture is the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into our atmosphere. As these gases are emitted, we notice a rise in global temperature, leading to global warming. This in turn can lead to species dying, water temperatures rising, icebergs melting, etc. Due to a large number of animal farms, we notice a decline in sustainability, and it is about time we act on finding more sustainable and ethical ways to produce the food we need without further damaging our world. Therefore, the question is: How can we prevent animal agriculture from causing any further decline in sustainability? In order to answer this question, it is crucial to use an interdisciplinary method. The first discipline is environmental science. With a vast knowledge of the environment, sustainability, and the world as a whole, environmentalists have been able to show the direct effects of animal agriculture. Environmental scientists are the experts who study the rise in global warming and patterns of GHG emissions and study the food patterns throughout the world. The second discipline is agriculture science. This discipline gives insight on the specifics of animal agriculture. From the farming methods practiced to the harmful effects on the environment, this discipline specifies just what about animal agriculture is so harmful toward the environment. After researching, I propose that we can lower the harmful effects of animal agriculture on the environment by reducing meat consumption, practicing productivity-based farming, and utilizing appropriate minerals.
