Adverse Effects of Animal Farming - Research Paper Example

Adverse Effects of Animal Farming Environment is one of the constituents of the earth essential to the survival of human beings. Humans derive important resources from the environment that are used to create or fulfill the basic needs, which are food, clothing, and shelter. Thus, conservation of the environment is a necessity for every rational being since it supports life. Although the protection of the environment is mandatory, it is not the case in the current world. Human beings are concerned more with production of foods and generation of money than protecting the environment. McDonalds’ production of beef hamburgers is a perfect example. Their production activity requires meat from animals, yet livestock production is one of the human practices that results in adverse changes in the environment. Subsequently, the current sorry state of the environment marked by degradation and depletion of essential resources is attributed to anthropogenic activities. Moreover, scientists believe that there is a new wave of anthropogenic activities that started in a particular period, a concept referred to as anthropocene. Being business management student, understanding the concept of anthropocene and environmental degradation is important, as it helps in finding solutions to the issue. McDonalds is one of the biggest fast food restaurants in the world. The restaurant was established in 1955 in Illinois USA and has more than 30000 outlets located in 120 countries globally that serve more than 54 million customers daily. McDonalds is famous for producing delicious and tasty beef hamburgers that attract many customers every day. As a result, the company is growing day by day, and the customer base is equally rising, which translates to increased consumption of beef hamburgers, and thus production of more of meat by farmers. The primary source of meat is nature. Therefore, increased demand for beef is among the anthropogenic activities that results in adverse effects on the environment and natural resources. The continuous and enormous use of natural resources disturbs the balance in the ecosystem resulting in numerous problems that cause environmental problems. One of the adverse effects of production and consumption of beef hamburgers is the depletion of the natural resources in the environment. The main ingredient of McDonald’s hamburgers is meat from animals. Halden and Schwab states, “Finally, but growing more urgent every day, industrial agriculture may be a significant contributor to climate change, as the production of greenhouse gases from these facilities (both from the animals themselves and from the decomposition of their waste) is significant (3)”. Livestock production requires much water. Currently, more than 17 billion livestock in the world require billions of barrels of water to support their growth. Furthermore, these animals need feeds that are essential for their growth. Rodriguez, Sultan and Hilliker state that the amount of water used to irrigate these feeds plantation is equally a lot (29). Similarly, according to Boyan, it requires 2464 gallons of water to support and produce one pound of beef in California, which results in a drastic drop in waterbeds (5). Further, Americans lack adequate fresh water since forty percent of this water is used to support meat production. Boyan claims that hamburger consumers can save up to 5000 gallons of water for every pound of meat they avoid (8). As a result, continuous consumption of beef hamburgers hurts the environment. Besides, raising of livestock results in depletion of fossil fuels. The modern farming factories that produce beef for hamburgers are prolific consumers of available fossil fuels. Furthermore, the production of corn and fertilizers used in raising livestock require a significant amount of oil. Boyan states that in order to make each bushel of maize, producers need 1.2 gallons of fossil oil (10). Therefore, the use of a large number of mineral oil is required to support livestock farming since animals feed in large quantities of grain. Moreover, these animals require food, and thus, utilize a great section of land for grazing. Boyan comments, “Well, more than two-thirds of the land area of the mountain states are used for grazing. 70% of the lands in western national forests are grazed; 90% of Bureau of Land Management land is grazed” (9). Thus, continuous consumption of beef hamburgers from McDonalds is an assertion on depleting the available fossil oil reserves. Equally important, continuous production and consumption of hamburgers grossly affects the fertile topsoil, an essential environmental resource. Since this resource is used faster and cannot be easily replaced, it is a unique resource in the environment. During grazing activities, cattle farmers use more than two-thirds of the farm to feed their livestock. Boyan notes that seventy percent of the earth in western national forest in United States is used purely for cattle grazing (12). Consequently, grazing results in compacting of the topsoil in these areas. In addition, the regular production of animal feeds in the country highly depletes this resource. For instance, production of corn and soybeans, the vital animal feeds in America, highly hurt the topsoil. According to Halden and Schwab, these feeds are planted in rows, which highly expose the topsoil making it vulnerable to soil erosion during rainy and windy seasons (4). Seven billion tons of top fertilized soil is lost annually due to consistent farming of animal feeds in the country. These activities result in gross environmental problems such as degradation and loss or essential resources, which results from anthropogenic activities. Moreover, production of livestock poses a threat to the existing rainforests. Since the production of hamburgers for consumption requires beef from rainforest cattle, farmers cut down trees in the rainforest area to make space. This space is used for farming purpose as the cattle thrive in the calm and favorable environment of the rain forest. According to Boyan, farmers destroy football size piece after every second daily to facilitate production of 257 beef hamburgers only (7). In addition, consumption of one hamburger is equivalent to a kitchen size space in the rainforest areas. The situation is worse because it leads to losing of indigenous tree species in the forest areas. Not only are rainforest trees destroyed, but also, the different species of mammals and insects in the woods. The cutting down of trees in the woods further depletes the amount of oxygen in the air. In addition, the production of beef hamburgers results in pollution of both the air and water consumed by humans. The waste products of animals such as urine and manure are primary pollutants from both air and water. The urine produced by animals changes the pH of water for consumption resulting in acidic water. Furthermore, the urine pollutes the air with its foul smell. The raising of many animals in the same shade makes the situation worse since the stench of their waste products is unbearable (Boyan 9). Some farmers release the waste products into rivers and lakes, which result in pollution of the water and interfere with aquatic life killing fish and other sea animals. The pollution by factories, farms, and feeds is real in America and gradually spreading to the rest of the world. With the first rising demand and production of beef hamburgers, the trend is likely to continue, and the environment is at a significant risk of further damage. Similarly, the wastes from livestock processing companies are dangerous and results in adverse effects on the environment. The gasses emitted by these factories are harmful to both humans and the environment. Gasses such as ammonia, methane, and hydrogen heavily pollute the atmospheric air. Animal farms are responsible for 73% of the total ammonia gas released in the environment (Kim and Bosselmann 112). The effect of this ammonia is respiratory diseases in humans and presence of smog and acid rain in the environment. Furthermore, meat factories are also the major contributors of methane gas into the environment globally by releasing 100 million tons of methane annually (Wu, Christdis, and Stott 808). Methane gas is highly dangerous and a major contributor to environmental problems, as it traps atmospheric heat in the atmosphere resulting in high temperatures. Besides, animals are also responsible for emission of methane gas into the environment. Thus, production and consumption of beef hamburgers by McDonalds is an anthropogenic activity that directly contributes to the environmental problems witnessed globally. As noted, McDonalds is one of the chief facilitators of environment pollution due to their production of beef hamburgers. Though a threat to the environment, this company can adopt new strategies and ways that are essential to protecting the global environment. The managers should facilitate a change in the major ingredient of their hamburgers, which is beef. The company should resort to production of vegetable burgers that are not only health, but also harmless to the environment. In addition, use of plants for the production of hamburgers will free up large tracts of land for other environmental activities such as afforestation and reforestation (Kim and Bosselmann 112). Furthermore, use of plant results in reduced demand for beef. Thus, reduced greenhouse effect in the atmosphere and increased clean air and water for consumption. Vegetable consumption is a definite way of saving and conserving the already damaged environment. Another solution is that MacDonald should replace their natural meat burgers with artificial meat burgers. Many companies have come up with the idea of artificial meat as the real substitute for natural meat. This meat is made from soy and pea protein amaranth. The two products are highly nutritional and environmental friendly. Moreover, they produce tasty meat, which has no big difference with the natural beef. The consistency in the taste is excellent for hamburger production. In a bid to reduce the gross environmental adverse effects of beef burgers, McDonalds should also adopt sustainable beef. Through sustainable meat from various farmers, the company will make a huge step towards controlling adverse effects caused by natural beef on the environment; hence, counteract human self-destruction. McNall states that global warming is the increased emission of greenhouse gasses, carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, (CFCs), nitrogen oxide and ozone into the atmosphere (56). Whereas Anthropocene is the geological period where human activities record powerful and adverse effects on the global environment (Bielo 4). The speed at which the human activities are causing significantly negative and visible changes in the environment since 1950s is known as the great acceleration. Making it worse is the fact that the issue lacks critical and serious response from the public. The reason is that the media among other entities responsible for sensitizing the public politicizes the issue rather focuses on finding a viable solution (Morton, 104). Though a number of scholars have critically responded to the issue by giving scientific evidence of global warming, a majority of the public only respond precritically without any serious concern to solving the problem. Due to anthropogenic activities such as livestock farming and production of animal feeds, the world is currently experiencing global warming. Livestock farming is responsible for emission of methane gas. Cows are responsible for ounces of methane gas emission in the air. These ounces are only for production of one pound of beef. Methane gas is the primary cause of global warming of the earth. Furthermore, the numerous animal wastes from farms are result in a reasonable amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. According to Morton, attempts by environmentalists to control human activities have failed (Morton 35). Consequently, these activities are the sole contributors to global warming of the earth. Global warming is leading to climatic changes in the world. These changes are taking place at a high speed, and effects such as extreme temperatures and droughts are evident annually all over the world. The acceleration of the climatic changes is showing no signs of stopping if human beings continue to destroy the environment. Unfortunately, effects of global warming on businesses are not only harmful, but also devastating to business managers. With increasing global warming of the earth, McDonalds is destined to suffer due to lack of livestock products. Agriculture and farming activities have become increasingly difficult to practice due to high temperatures. Livestock farmers also find it hard to get relevant and nutritious foods for their animals. Additionally, due to the adverse changes in weather, plants diseases and fungi consistently attack crops affecting the production of animal feeds (Kim and Bosselmann 112). Due to the harsh conditions, animal feeds are expensive and scarce. Moreover, human-environment interaction has resulted in adverse effects that heavily impact beef production. According to Wu, Christdis, and Stott, cutting of trees and forests leads to lack of rainwater for rearing of animals (808). The farm animals require adequate water to drink. In addition, human activities such burning of fossil fuel results in acidic rain, which directly affects both animals and plants. Thus, the production of animals for beef purposes proves unsustainable. This directly affects the production of beef hence has a direct impact on McDonalds. The company’s lack of adequate raw material for the manufacture of hamburgers prompts the management to look for expensive alternatives or incur losses. Although anthropogenic factors are the primary causes of the change in environment, climatic fluctuations also result in a change in weather patterns. It is significant for human beings to monitor these changes since living, and non-living things are interconnected (Morton 82). Non-anthropogenic factors such as volcanic eruptions, output and changes in concentration of water vapors results in adverse weather changes. These factors cause extreme temperatures that are not conducive to both humans and businesses. High temperatures discourage movement of laborers and customers to business centers. Business managers are forced to adjust their business practices to accommodate the new trends or changes caused by weather. McDonald’s management has to study the weather keenly in order to adjust its operations to fit the new environmental demands. During bad weather days, few people go out due to the extreme conditions. This forces the management to change the operational trends of the business and adopt new services in order to attain maximum sales. Service such as door delivery in the case of McDonalds is useful. Consequently, the service cost is high and managers have to adjust prices to meet this extra cost. Evidently, anthropogenic factors are the major contributors to the changes in weather and adverse conditions experienced currently. In the case of McDonalds, the company’s continuous demand for beef is one of the major reason for the destruction of the environment. Farmers are manipulating and exploiting the environment in order to produce meat. This practice is characterized by cutting down of forests, depletion of fossil fuels, and pollution of water sources, which results in environmental changes. These changes are negative and lead to high temperatures, global warming, and inadequacy of safe and clean water for consumption. However, this situation is avoidable since businesses such as McDonalds can replace beef in their hamburgers with vegetables, which are healthy and eco-friendly. With the adoption of animal products with plant produces, the demand for beef is bound to fall leading to reduced animal farming. This in turn reduces the harmful human practices that hurt the environment. Works Cited Bielo, David. "Welcome to the Anthropocene." Earth Island Journal. (2013). Web. 25 Mar. 2015. Boyan, Steve. How Our Food Choices can Help Save the Environment. Web. 25 Mar. 2 May 2013. Web. 23 March 2015. Halden, Rolf and Kellog Schwab. "Environmental Impact of Industrial Farm Animal Production." Pew Report on Industrial Farm Animal Production. 2013. Web. Kim, Rakhyum and Klaus Bosselmann. "International Environmental Law in the Anthropocene: Towards a Purposive System of Multilateral Environmental Agreements." Transnational Environmental Law (2013). Print. McNall, Scott. Rapid Climate Change: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions. Routledge, 2011. Print. Morton, Timothy. "Dark Thoughts." Morton, Timothy. The Ecological Thought. Harvard University Press, 2012. Chapter 2. Print. Morton, Timothy. "Forward Thinking." Morton, Timothy. The Ecological Thought. Harvard University Press, 2012. Chapter 3. Print. Morton, Timothy. "Thinking Big." Morton, Timothy. The Ecological Thought. Harvard University Press, 2012. Chapter 1. Print. Rodriguez, Elizabeth, Ryan Sultan, and Amy Hilliker. "Negative Effects of Agriculture on Our Environment." Trap rock. 3. (2004): 28-32. Print. Wu, Peili, Nikolaos Christdis, and Peter Stott. "Anthropogenic impact on Earth’s hydrological cycle." Nature Climate Change. (2013): 807-810. Print. Read More