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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Sustainable Table Issues
  • Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:23:36 -0700


Sustainable Table Issues
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/

Learning about sustainable food and the problems with factory farming can be
daunting at first, but, with a little effort, you can quickly learn enough to
make the safest and wisest food choices for you and your family.

In this section, we introduce you to the major issues surrounding sustainable
meat and factory farming. This is simply an overview; for those who want to
learn more about the issues presented here, we've provided links to more
detailed information and organizations who specialize in that particular
topic.

As you read down the list, remember that many of these issues are reasons to
eat sustainable food. If it seems overwhelming, simply switch to sustainable
and you won't have to worry about the problems surrounding our meat supply!

Additives
Much of the food we find at today's supermarkets is highly processed and
contains numerous food additives. These substances are used to change the way
food tastes and looks (altering the color and texture), to improve the
nutritional quality of foods (adding vitamins and minerals), and to increase
the food's shelf life to prevent spoilage.

Air Pollution
Industrial farms produce massive amounts of animal waste that is known to
release greenhouse gasses into the air. Aside from the air pollution that
comes from farm waste, the industrialized food system also burns significant
amounts of fossil fuels to power the trucks that distribute products.

Animal Welfare
As farms have become more industrialized, animals have become more of a
commodity. They are considered units of production, rather than living,
breathing beings, and as a result these animals are treated inhumanely. But
increasingly, more and more consumers are demanding better treatment of
animals.

AntibioticsAntibiotics
Because of the crowded and unsanitary conditions on factory farms, animals
are often fed low doses of antibiotics. Antibiotics are also used to make the
animals grow faster. This is contributing to the growing problem of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans.

Biodiversity
Biodiversity is important because ecosystems rely on the interaction of a
variety of plant and animal species, and because various breeds of animals
and plants have valuable genetic material. Industrial agriculture is one
among many unsustainable human activities that has lead to rapid decreases in
the world's biodiversity.

Climate Change
So how is food—supposedly life-sustaining stuff—one of the key factors in an
environmental crisis that threatens the basis of life on earth? A big part of
the answer is in the rapid and radical twentieth-century transformation of
our food system from sustainably based, locally focused production, to a
fossil-fuel addicted industrialized system.

Cloning
Cloning of animals used in food production is a controversial issue both
because of its ethical implications and the potential threat it poses to
human health.

Communities
Sustainable farms provide a welcome alternative to the problems associated
with factory farming. Unlike corporate factory farm owners who have very
little interest in the condition of local communities, sustainable farmers
have a strong connection to their communities and a demonstrated commitment
to preserving the surrounding land. In addition, workers on sustainable farms
are treated fairly and earn a respectable wage.Dairy Feature Article

Dairy
Dairy foods production is a multi-billion dollar industry, and over the past
century it has grown increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few major
corporations. This has lead to widespread environmental damage, low standards
of animal welfare, and mass production of milk tainted with antibiotics,
artificial growth hormones and pesticide residues.

Eat Local, Buy Local, Be Local
Most meals travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to reach your dinner
plate. By eating food produced locally, you are helping yourself, the
environment and your community.

Economics
Proponents of industrial agriculture claim that large-scale factory farming
is the most efficient way to produce huge quantities of inexpensive food and
that without industrial agriculture, food prices would be excessively high.
But the price of industrial food does not take into account the true costs of
production. When these hidden environmental and health costs are factored in,
industrial food costs more than sustainable.

Environment
Agriculture has an enormous impact on the environment, but whether the impact
is good or bad depends on the type of agriculture used. Sustainable
agriculture puts back what it takes from the environment, while factory
farming pollutes our air, water and soil.

Factory Farming
Meat and dairy production in the United States has changed dramatically over
the past 30 years. Small family farms have been replaced by huge livestock
facilities, where animals suffer horribly, workers are mistreated, the
environment is being destroyed, and where rural communities are falling apart.

Family Farms
Family farmers are being forced out of business at an alarming rate, and
hundreds of small farmers sell their land every week. The dramatic expansion
of industrial agriculture has made it increasingly difficult for small family
farmers in the US, but many small family farms have found hope within the
sustainable food movement.

Feed
Animals on industrial farms are fed the cheapest grains and waste products in
order to fatten them quickly. This leads to widespread health problems, so
low doses of antibiotics are also added to the feed. The result is unhealthy
animals and unhealthy food for consumers.

Food IrradiationFood Irradiation
Irradiation is used to increase the shelf life of the food so it can travel
longer distances and keep for as long as possible. This processing method has
not been properly tested for safety and it depletes the vitamin content of
food.

Food Safety
The significant corporate consolidation of global food production has created
a food system that values quantity over quality. Every single decision a
farmer, or corporation, makes about growing or raising a certain kind of food
affects the final product. Cutting corners on the quality of animal feed,
waste management, level of training for farm workers, processing methods and
distribution all contribute to the safety of our food.

Fossil Fuel and Energy Use
Industrial agriculture relies on machinery to produce food and trucks to
transport the food throughout the country, and likewise consumes massive
amounts of fuel and energy. Sustainable farms work to minimize their energy
use, and since their products are bought locally, minimal fuel is burned in
order to transport their goods.

Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering (GE) is the process of transferring genes from one plant
or animal to another. The technology has not been properly tested, so no one
knows if GE food is safe to eat. Currently, crops are genetically engineered,
and some believe that animals are next.

Health
Sustainable foods are healthier than industrial food because of higher levels
of “good” fats and nutrients in grass-fed animal products and lower pesticide
residues in organic foods. Meanwhile, industrially-produced food is
detrimental to our health because it leads to outbreaks of foodborne illness,
contributes to antibiotic resistance, and pollutes drinking water.

Heritage and Heirloom Foods
Farmers throughout the world once raised thousands of different animal breeds
and plant varieties. However, since today's industrial farms rely upon only a
few specialized livestock breeds and plant varieties, thousands of
non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with
the valuable genetic diversity they possessed. Fortunately, a growing number
of sustainable farmers are preserving agricultural variety and protecting
biodiversity by raising “heritage” or “heirloom” animal breeds, fruits, and
vegetables.

Hormones
Artificial hormones are implanted in beef and dairy cattle to make them grow
faster and produce more milk. The US government claims the hormones are safe,
but the European Union has banned hormones because of a possible link between
hormones and some types of cancer.

Mad Cow DiseaseMad Cow Disease
Mad cow disease is transmitted when one cow eats the brain and spinal tissue
of an infected cow. Humans can also contract vCJD (the human form of mad cow)
this way, and over 150 people have died from this disease since the 1990’s.

Organic
Organic food regulated by the USDA, and organic farmers must follow specific
guidelines in order to label their foods “organic.” For example, animals
cannot be given antibiotics or hormones, chemical pesticides cannot be used,
and meat cannot be irradiated.

Pasture Raised
Pasture-raised animals spend most of their time outdoors, where they're able
to eat nutritious grasses and other plants as they would in nature. In
addition to dramatically improving the welfare of farm animals, pasturing
helps reduce environmental damage, and yields meats, eggs, and dairy products
which are tastier and more nutritious than foods produced on industrial farms.

Pesticides
Pesticides are sprayed on crops that are fed to farm animals. Residues are
stored in the animals' fat and tissue, and enter our bodies when we eat the
meat. Pesticides have been linked to many medical problems.

Policy and Legislation
Current agricultural policy promotes industrial farming and neglects small
farmers. In many cases, our tax money goes to support research and operating
costs for large food corporations.

Precautionary Principle
Rather than banning the use of new technologies before they’re shown to be
safe, our federal agencies allow potentially dangerous products to enter the
food supply, putting public health at risk.

Poverty & Hunger
The new development philosophy helps those in poverty help themselves. In
both rural and urban areas, individuals are being encouraged (or taking it
upon themselves) to take control of their own food security. Urban
communities are reclaiming brown-fields and, using sustainable agricultural
techniques, are providing their communities with healthful, fresh food while
creating small businesses around selling these products to their communities.

rBGH
Artificial bST is produced using recombinant DNA technology (biotechnology),
also called Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH), and known as rbST or rBGH for short.
When injected into cows, rBGH increases milk production 10-15 percent and in
some cases up to 40 percent.

Slaughterhouses and Processing
The US meatpacking industry is dominated by a handful of corporations that
process massive quantities of meat in huge plants. As a result of inadequate
food safety standards and lax inspection practices by the USDA, these
corporations are able to operate unsanitary facilities and send out meat
contaminated with dangerous bacteria. These facilities are also extremely
dangerous, and meat-packing is among the most hazardous jobs in the nation.

Waste
Some industrial livestock facilities produce as much sewage as a small city,
but they are not required to treat all this waste. Instead, the waste is held
in large pools and spread on farm fields where it often runs off into nearby
water systems.

Water
American consumers are drinking more bottled water every year, in part
because they think it is somehow safer than tap water. Tap water is generally
just as safe, clean, and healthy as bottled water—in many cases even more so.
By taking back the tap, you can save money, protect your health, and help
prevent environmental and social problems as well.

Water Pollution
The waste from industrial farms leaks into streams, lakes, oceans and ground
water with bacteria, antibiotic residue, pesticides and chemical fertilizer.
This pollution can lead to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems and
contamination of human drinking water.

Workers
Workers on industrial farms and in meat processing facilities work in
hazardous conditions, and are underpaid and mistreated.






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