Livestock

ISSUES

Animal husbandry

Between 1990 and 2007, meat consumption in the world went from 143 million tons to 271 million tons. It therefore nearly doubled in 15 years (1). It could double again by 2050 (2) Consumption is particularly increasing in developing countries because their populations are rising and because their diet is evolving - populations that are sometimes undernourished or malnourished now have access to richer diets. Today, it can go up to about 30 kg of meat a year per inhabitant, compared to 80 kilos in industrialised countries. (3)
Environmental degradation
Animal husbandry requires large surfaces: it is the human activity which uses the most land. According to the FAO, pastures take up 26 per cent of the Earth's land surface whilst fodder production requires about a third of arable land. (4) In arid areas, overgrazing particularly favours soil erosion.
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DEBATES

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FOCUS

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VIDEOS

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GREEN TIPS

Eating better

Eating less meat is simple. It is good for the planet, for one’s health and for one’s purse. It doesn’t mean...

INDICATORS

Undernourishment

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