Farming, Food and Nature Respecting Animals, People and the Environment

About this book

Livestock production and its use of finite resources is devastating biodiversity and pushing wildlife to the brink of extinction. This powerful book examines the massive global impact caused by intensive livestock production and then explores solutions, ranging from moving to agroecological farming to reducing consumption of animal products, including examples of best practice and innovation, both on land and within the investment and food industries.

Leading international contributors – including Tony Juniper, Dave Goulson, Carl Safina and many others – spell out the problems in terms of planetary limits, climate change, resources, the massive use of cereals and soy for animal feed, and the direct impact of industrial farming on the welfare of farmed animals. They call for an urgent move to a flourishing food system for the sake of animals, the planet and us. Some offer examples of global good practice in farming or the power of the investment community to drive change, and others highlight food business innovation and exciting developments in protein diversification. Providing a highly accessible overview of key issues, Farming, Food and Nature creates a timely resource for all concerned about the environmental, social and ethical issues facing food, farming and nature. It will be an invaluable resource and provide inspiration for students, professionals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the general reader.

Contents

1. Introduction
      Joyce D’Silva and Carol McKenna

Part I Setting the Planetary Scene
2. Livestock and the Boundaries of our Planet
      Katherine Richardson

Part II The Impacts of Livestock Production on the Natural World
3. The great disappearing act
      Philip Lymbery
4. Biodiversity, Extinction and Livestock Production.
      Tony Juniper
5. Bees versus Robots
      Dave Goulson
6. Conservation and the sacred cow
      Dominic Wormell
7. Protecting the Cerrado and Sustainable diets: Complementary pathways towards a more conscious appetite
      Jean François Timmers
8. The growing demand for fish: impacts on the environment, animal welfare and food security.
      Krzysztof Wotjas and Natasha Boyland

Part III The Impact of Livestock Production on People
9. Livestock Production and Human Rights or How the Chicken Came Home to Roost
      Raj Patel
10. The role of livestock in developing countries
      Jimmy Smith

Part IV The significance of sentience in wild and farmed animals
11. Beyond Words: What Animals Think & Feel
      Carl Safina
12. Creatures of the Factory Farm.
      Joyce D’Silva
13. The scientific basis for action on animal welfare and other aspects of sustainability
      Donald M. Broom
14. Green and pleasant farming: cattle, sheep and habitat.
      John Webster

Part V Solutions for people, planet and animals
15. Agroecology working in Africa: The Case of Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT)
      Janet Maro
16. Balancing the needs of food production, farming and nature in the UK uplands
      Chris Clark & Pat Thompson
17. Chikolongo – a win for people and parks
      Joseph Okori and Peter Borchert
18. Silvopastoral systems: A feasible step towards environmentally sustainable livestock systems in Mexico
      Karen F Mancera
19. Farming in harmony with nature
      Patrick Holden

Part VI Food Policy for the future
20. Paying for the true costs of our meat, eggs and dairy
      Peter Stevenson
21. Changing the world, one meal at a time
      Martin Palmer
22. The Sustainable Development Goals: challenge or opportunity?
      Hans R Herren
23. Rethinking our global food systems
      Jonathon Porritt
24. Sustainability in the Agro-Food sector
      Karl Falkenberg
25. Farming insects for food or feed
      Phil Brooke
26. Hopeful signposts to a plant-based future
      Carol McKenna

Part VII Health and sustainable diets
27. Healthy and Sustainable Dietary Patterns for Prevention of Chronic Diseases and Premature Death
      Elena Hemler and Frank B. Hu
28. The threat to Public Health from Livestock Production.
      Aysha Akhtar
29. Food, feed and sustainable diets
      Duncan Williamson
30. Conserving biodiversity through sustainable diets
      Glyn Davies
31. The case for veganism
      Andrew Knight and Jasmijn de Boo

Part VIII Investing in a Flourishing Food System
32. Corporate engagement strategies to improve farm animal welfare and why they work
      Leah Garces
33. The Power of Investor Influence
      Rosie Wardle
34. The Role of Business in Reducing Meat and Dairy Consumption
      Michael Pellman Rowland
35. Plant-Based & Clean Meat Will Save The World
      Bruce Friedrich
36. Conclusion
      Joyce D’Silva and Carol McKenna

Customer Reviews

Biography

Joyce D'Silva is Ambassador Emeritus for Compassion in World Farming, the leading charity advancing the welfare of farm animals worldwide. She is co-editor of The Meat Crisis (second edition 2017).

Carol McKenna is Special Advisor to the Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming and organised the Extinction and Livestock Conference on which this book is based.