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There are many factors that contribute to the cost of protein. Some of the factors can be environmental, cultural, or health related. The UN published an extensive document titled “Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options”. This document outlines some of the devastating effects of raising and processing livestock. Water depletion and pollution starts at the beginning when pesticides are used on the grain used for feed. Pasture-raised animals pollute the water systems where they reside with their manure and wastewater. Slaughterhouses and other meat-processing facilities require high volumes of water for processing and disinfecting post-slaughter. The waste water is then contaminated with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that were consumed by animals while they were living. These elements overwhelm the surrounding ecosystems in high volume by contaminating the water.
The UN also describes the global effect of livestock as “[being] one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases and one of the leading causal factors of biodiversity….” Many social classes depend on livestock and its products for nutrition and its economic support especially in developing countries. As populations grow our need for protein derived from livestock also grows.
Livestock isn’t the only source of protein that people consume that has a high cost to our environment or health. As the image of Veggie Protein illustrates spinach, kale and broccoli are the most consumed by people who get their protein from a veggie based diet. Pesticide and nutrient runoff from growing vegetable crops contribute to greenhouse gases and water contamination. Cases of e.coli are found in both meat and vegetable consumption and can potentially be harmful to one’s health and can even lead to death in some cases.
So, what can you do? The call to action is to spend money in a way that supports best practices in the cultivation of protein products. Buy meat that are raised and slaughtered on a smaller scale and closer to where one resides. Purchasing local and organic produce directly from the farmer’s market cuts down on your carbon footprint because locally grown proteins takes less fuel to transport it into your grocery basket.
sources
Kingston-Smith, Alison H., Joan E. Edwards, Sharon A. Huws, Eun J. Kim, and Michael Abberton. "Plant-based Strategies towards Minimising ‘livestock's Long Shadow’." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 69.04 (2010): 613-20. Web.
Roseth, Roger, and Ketil Haarstad. "Pesticide Runoff from Greenhouse Production." Water Science & Technology 61.6 (2010): 1373. Web.
"The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Sustainability of Meat-based and Plant-based Diets and the Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. <http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/3/660S.full>.
Why Meatless?" Why Meatless? N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. <http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-meatless/>.
The UN also describes the global effect of livestock as “[being] one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases and one of the leading causal factors of biodiversity….” Many social classes depend on livestock and its products for nutrition and its economic support especially in developing countries. As populations grow our need for protein derived from livestock also grows.
Livestock isn’t the only source of protein that people consume that has a high cost to our environment or health. As the image of Veggie Protein illustrates spinach, kale and broccoli are the most consumed by people who get their protein from a veggie based diet. Pesticide and nutrient runoff from growing vegetable crops contribute to greenhouse gases and water contamination. Cases of e.coli are found in both meat and vegetable consumption and can potentially be harmful to one’s health and can even lead to death in some cases.
So, what can you do? The call to action is to spend money in a way that supports best practices in the cultivation of protein products. Buy meat that are raised and slaughtered on a smaller scale and closer to where one resides. Purchasing local and organic produce directly from the farmer’s market cuts down on your carbon footprint because locally grown proteins takes less fuel to transport it into your grocery basket.
sources
Kingston-Smith, Alison H., Joan E. Edwards, Sharon A. Huws, Eun J. Kim, and Michael Abberton. "Plant-based Strategies towards Minimising ‘livestock's Long Shadow’." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 69.04 (2010): 613-20. Web.
Roseth, Roger, and Ketil Haarstad. "Pesticide Runoff from Greenhouse Production." Water Science & Technology 61.6 (2010): 1373. Web.
"The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Sustainability of Meat-based and Plant-based Diets and the Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. <http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/78/3/660S.full>.
Why Meatless?" Why Meatless? N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. <http://www.meatlessmonday.com/why-meatless/>.