Industrial Farming By: Matai Blacklock. THE MEATRIX 1 THE MEATRIX 2 THE MEATRIX 2.5.

Industrial Farming

By: Matai Blacklock

• THE MEATRIX 1

• THE MEATRIX 2

• THE MEATRIX 2.5

History of Industrial Farming• To feed the rising population, industrial

farmers sought out ways to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.

• Industrial farmers took advantage of the technological and scientific advancements that occurred after the Industrial Revolution and WWII. – Mass Production– Synthetic Fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus)– Advancements in animal medicines– Synthetic Chemicals: pesticides, herbicides

and insecticides.

Currently….• Large agribusinesses make up our

industrial farming system.• Four Companies currently control 90% of all beef

processing plants(2)

• Four companies control 70% of the pork processing plants

• Four companies control 60% of poultry processing plants(2)

– Industrial farming accounts for 99% of all farmed animals raised and slaughtered in the US.(1)

• Industrial farms practice vertical integration and contract growing to externalize cost.

Vertical Integration • Large agribusinesses are now using a

vertical integration business model.

– The corporation that owns the factory farm also owns the feed company, slaughterhouse, and facilities for final stages of production, such as packaging and distribution.

– They aim control every part of the production and distribution process.

Contract Growing• Individual family farms enter into contracts

with agribusinesses. – The contracts give the agribusiness control

over how the farm operates.• 90 percent of all poultry in the U.S. is now raised by

growers who don’t own the birds or negotiate basic terms like price per pound(1)

• Small farms are forced to enter into these contracts because they cannot keep up with industrial farms.

• Industrial farms sometimes claim their products are from “family farms” because of this. Video Clip

Externalized Cost• By practicing vertical integration and

contract farming agribusinesses are able to externalize costs.– The consumer doesn’t have to pay a high

price for eat at the supermarket because the cost is shared with:

– small family farms that are taken advantage of– communities that are forced to deal with pollution

from farms» Leads to health and environmental problems

• Agribusinesses disregard any bad treatment of animals or pollution that they cause because it saves them money.

What makes up the Industrial Farming System?

• A factory farm is an industrial facility for raising large numbers of livestock in as little space as possible.

• Industrial farms also use certain techniques to mass produce crops.

• Mainly corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, cotton. Rice and grain (sorghum).

• The goal the industrial farming system is to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.

Crop Growing Industrial Farms• Their use of synthetic pesticides

herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers contributes to ground & air pollution.

• The lack of biodiversity makes large fields of crops vulnerable and hurts the ecosystem

• Crops are genetically modified.

• Crop’s are grown for animal feed.

Video Clip

Livestock Factory Farms• Inhumanely treat animals.

• Are a large source of pollution.– Results in environmental and health

effects.

• Are a burden on local ecosystems.– pollution, excessive water use, health

effects

• Unsafe and unfair working conditions.

Animal Welfare

• In a factory where the goals are to:• lower costs• increase production rates• & raise profits

The welfare of the animals is never taken into consideration.

Animals are forced to live in very small areas.

Often mutilated to prevent damage during fights.

Live in extremely unsanitary enclosures.

disease prone routine antibiotic use

Antibiotic Resistance

• Overcrowding of livestock confinements.

• Widespread diseases – Unsanitary living space & open wounds

• Constant dosages of antibiotics

• Antibiotic resistant bacteria public health crisis

Industrial Farm Pollution• Sources of pollution:– Synthetic Chemicals• Pesticides, herbicides & insecticides.

– Heavy metal pollution• Heavy metals within animal feed leek into

the land surrounding factory farms from manure pools

–Manure

Manure– 1.5billion pounds of manure produced a year– Disposal pools often leak poisoning local water

sources– As many as half of factory farms waste pools

leak enough to contaminate nearby groundwater

– To help empty the pools manure is sprayed directly into the air.

– Decomposing manure releases:methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and other chemicals.

Industrial livestock production is responsible for 18% of the global warming effect, more than the entire transportation sector!!

Unsafe and Unfair Working Conditions• Most workers are paid minimum

wage and receive no benefits.

• Workers are exposed to multiple toxins in the air and antibiotic resistant bacteria.

• A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 60 percent of poultry companies surveyed were violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

Effects on Human Health

• Farm workers can easily get diseases from factory animals and pass them on.

• Do to unsanitary conditions in farms meat can often become contaminated.– U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 70% of all

food borne illness in the nation can be traced to contaminated meat.

• Toxins released into the air and water from manure pits and synthetic chemicals can cause negative health effects in humans.

Effects on Human Health

• Symptoms:– Headaches– Runny nose– Nasal congestion– Sore throats– Hoarseness– Excessive coughing– Chest tightness– Nausea– Confusion– Mood alterations– scratchy throat

– Diarrhea– Dizziness– Fainting– Burning Eyes– Depression– Fatigue– Seizures– Comes– Respiratory Problems

(Asthma)– Fever– Kidney Failure– Death

Industrial Farming’s Effect on the Environment• Pollution from farms ruins local water and air quality for

both humans and local wildlife.

• Greenhouse gasses released from decomposing manure contribute to global climate change.

• The lack of biodiversity destroys local ecosystems.

• Industrial farms rely upon large quantities of water. (millions of gallons a day)– Lowered water tables.– The Ogallala aquifer, the largest in the nation, has been estimated

to dry up in 50 years due to unsustainable industrial farming practices.

What can you do to help?

• Support Local Farms– By purchasing from local farmers you can help

support them and not support big factory farms.

• Educate yourself and others

• Try to buy meat and produce that hasn’t been raised in an industrial farm.

Rules: Don’t speak while it’s another teams turn to answer.Think hard.Have Fun!!