Industrial Agriculture: Sacrifice Quality for Quantity?

Cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, cool milk, corn…Are these food items delicious or vicious?

Did you ever reflect upon the source of your food and the process it has been through before you can enjoy the first bite?

 

Most likely, that hamburger meat I mentioned earlier was previously treated as a food product used for monetary gain rather than a living creation. Before it was put in a bun, it started with a cow, along with many others, that was raised with a purpose. A purpose to feed massive amounts of people with lower production costs and increased profits. As a result, quality is compromised. This is an aspect of industrial agriculture.

 

Although there is a lower price for these products, there are also numerous hidden costs like damage to the environment, our health, and all animals.


For livestock (ex. chickens, pigs, cows) featured in industrial agriculture, they are typically kept in crowded, confined areas and fed the cheapest grain and injected with growth-promoting antibiotics to ensure they are plump. On the grains given to these farm animals, harmful pesticides residue remains. To “neutralize” this, low doses of antibiotics are also added. The end product is unhealthy consumption for the consumers and immunity to antibiotics.



Cows in an industrial feedlot, animal feeding operation prior to slaughter



Besides the damage to animals, the human workers on the farm and the meat processing facilities are underpaid, mistreated and working in an unsanitary and hazardous setting. The environment isn’t benefiting either; wastes (like bacteria, antibiotics, pesticides and chemical fertilizers) from the farms contaminate nearby soil, air, and water systems which ultimately affects the whole ecosystem. Large amount of fossil fuels like gasoline are consumed, using up valuable non-renewable resources and further polluting the environment. These big corporate factory-like farms are also taking out small rural communities.



Monoculture seen in agricuture



To make it possible, monoculture is becoming a popular practice in industrial agriculture. Basically, it is growing a single type of crop or animal over a broad area. Monoculture is used because it is easier and faster to produce at large quantities. However, biodiversity is prevented, creating all sorts of trouble.

The reason for all this is to increase the yield/output to supply the escalating world human population, minimize production costs and lower commodity costs, increasing the amount of consumers. For 2009, the world population is 6,775,235,741 (World Bank, World Development Indicators) and rising. To meet our growing requirements, industrialized farming is still widely used.

 



Sustainable agriculture is an alternative to industrial farming and considered more moral since their practices are generally more beneficial to the ecosystem. There is less contamination in the water, air, and soil. Farm labourers are treated more fairly and receive a decent salary. Animal welfare is better.

The great benefits however, have its price… literally. Due to increased wages, healthier (also meaning more expensive) feed for animals, more time to produce crops/animals without the growth hormones, the profit and efficiency decreases.


Agriculture through nature’s route



 

With some dedication and work, hopefully sustainable agriculture will take the place of industrialized agriculture!

 

Matrix Spoof video on the Basics of Industrial Agriculture

 

Source Cited:

• "U.S. Agriculture in the Twentieth Century." eh.net. Economic History Association, 01 Feb 2010. Web. 17 Feb 2011. <http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/gardner.agriculture.us>.
• "The Issue: Human Health." Sustainable Table. GRACE, n.d. Web. 17 Feb 2011. <http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/health/>.
• "Hidden Costs of Industrial Agriculture." UCSUSA. Union of Concerned Scientists, 24 Aug 2008. Web. 18 Feb 2011. <http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_industrial_agriculture/costs-and-benefits-of.html>.
• Horrigan, Leo, Robert S. Lawrence, and Polly Walker. What's Wrong with Industrial Agriculture. Organic Consumers Association, May 2002. Web. 18 Feb 2011. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/IndustrialAg502.cfm>.
• ·  "What Is Sustainable Agriculture?" UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. University of California. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/concept.htm>.
• "Learn About the Issues." The Meatrix. GRACE, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. <http://www.themeatrix.com/learn>.

Pictures sources:

• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Tractors_in_Potato_Field.jpg
• http://www.jarche.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/sustainability.jpg
• http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/assets/images/story/2006/12/13/1332_prairie_USE.jpg
• http://fransonchiropractic.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/cow-feed-lot.jpg?w=468&h=251

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqAMt_C7kw&feature=related

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