One of the greatest challenges facing us today is feeding a growing human population on finite land, water and energy resources. In terms of production, we could meet this challenge but not before we stop wasting what we produce.
This waste is not limited to poor practices in harvesting, storage and transportation; ‘imperfect’ looking vegetables not being sold to consumers and food companies throwing food away. We also waste food by feeding it to industrially-reared livestock.
Farm animals are fed a third of the world’s cereal harvest. If that cereal were given directly to people, it would feed about 3 billion of us. In addition, 90% of the world’s soya beans are fed to factory farmed animals.
This means that farm animals are now in direct competition with us for food. And the rise of industrial farming means that we are losing out.
For every six kg of plant protein such as cereals etc. fed to livestock, only one kg of protein on average is given back in the form of meat or other livestock products. In terms of food value, for every 100 food calories of edible crops fed to livestock, we get back just 30 calories in the form of meat and milk; a 70% loss.
Compassion in World Farming CEO Philip Lymbery says: “Factory farms are food factories in reverse; they waste it, not make it; and they waste valuable cropland in the process.”
Philip says: “People don’t have to choose between eating cereals or meat. Both can be produced far more effectively if farm animals are kept in ways that add to the world’s food supply, rather than detract, as they do on factory farms. The industrial approach forces animals and people to compete for food in a way that ill-serves them both.”
“We can produce enough to feed our growing population, we just have to stop wasting it. Reducing food waste and ending factory farming go hand-in-hand in ensuring a better and well-fed world for everyone, now and into the future.”
There is enough food for everyone – see here for more.