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 This
working group over 2008 and 2010 reviewed current
scientific and empirical evidence on
impact of climate change on agriculture
and to recommend within the context of
sustainable agriculture specific actions
that can be implemented by UN agencies,
governments and civil society at large.
Its first report was developed in 2008
and then enhanced in 2010.
Agriculture has changed dramatically
since the end of World War II, often
using new machines, chemicals and
intensive techniques to maximize
production, especially as the human
population has also boomed.
Unfortunately, while many benefits have
emerged, they have been at a serious
cost in a decline in family farms,
depleted top soils, contaminated ground
water, pollution of the ocean, cruel
animal husbandry practices and a decline
in economic and social conditions in
rural communities.
To counter these negative trends, a
movement has emerged since 1970's to
offer fresh, innovative approaches. Such
approaches will be critical as climate
change continues to deteriorate land and
water availability. The stresses caused
by climate change will require
adaptation policies that on the one hand
resist drought, heat and other
environmental concerns while on the
other advance social change.
Increasingly, the steeply rising world
population is demanding meat, yet
excessive meat production when produced
in intensive farms is very
damaging to the environment. The paper
will not propose a vegetarian solution
(leaving that choice to societies);
rather it proposes a meat reduced diet
but also alternative technologies such
as growing meat in laboratories, a
promising innovation. Some of the reason are clearly
environmental and economic. Current meat
production is energy and chemical
intensive and so quite vulnerable to oil
price increases. Pesticides, herbicides,
and animal wastes are heavily polluting.
Intensive farming of animals is also
often cruel. As an example, around 48
billion chickens are slaughtered
annually for meat. Over 70% of them are
raised in industrial farming systems
confining them in windowless, barren and
crowded sheds of up to 16 to 20 birds
per square metre. By the time they reach
slaughter age at 6 weeks old they often
have less space than one A4 sheet of
paper per chicken. Due to excessive
growth rates, many suffer from painful
lameness caused by abnormal skeletal
development or bone disease. Some have
difficulty in walking or even standing -
unable to even reach water, they can go
thirsty for days. What we
argue for is a more humane approach that
allows for meat consumption without
destroying the environment.
The bottom line for the chapter has been
to articulate a sensible vision for diet
and argue for understanding farmland as
living systems embedded in a broader
ecosystem. We must therefore,
especially, given the impending
difficulties certain to come from
climate change, understand how to manage
all farm practices on the basis of this
holistic perception while also seeking
new, innovative technologies. In
addition, we also need to be sensitive
to indigenous and pastoral rights.
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