Industrial meat production is unsustainable and unethical from "summary" of The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
The system that delivers most of the meat we eat is a miracle, but it is also a marvel of inefficiency. It takes vast amounts of grain, soybeans, and fossil fuel to produce a steak. The industrial feedlot is a system designed to concentrate food as efficiently as possible, but it is ultimately unsustainable. It relies on cheap energy, abundant water, and a stable climate - things that are becoming increasingly scarce. The animals in these feedlots are packed in such close quarters that they must be fed a steady diet of antibiotics just to keep them alive. This practice is not only cruel to the animals, but it also contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans. These animals are not allowed to behave like animals; they are denied their most basic instincts. They are forced to live in conditions that are far from natural, and they suffer as a result. The environmental costs of industrial meat production are staggering. The feedlot system produces massive amounts of waste that pollute our waterways and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The vast monocultures of corn and soy that feed these animals require huge amounts of pesticides and fertilizers, which further degrade the environment. The industrial meat system is not only unsustainable, but it is also fundamentally unethical. When we eat meat from animals raised in this way, we are participating in a system that is inherently cruel and destructive. We are supporting a system that prioritizes efficiency and profit over the well-being of animals, the health of the environment, and the health of the people who eat this meat. We have a choice in what we eat, and by choosing to eat meat from animals raised in more sustainable and ethical ways, we can help create a food system that is better for animals, the environment, and ourselves.
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