The Meat Industry and How It Affects Biodiversity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61326/foodb.v4i1.358Keywords:
Biodiversity loss, Deforestation, Livestock, Meat industryAbstract
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all ecosystems, including diversity within species, between species, and among ecosystems. Its loss is one of the most critical environmental challenges we face today. The main drivers of biodiversity loss are habitat destruction, overuse of resources, pollution and climate change. The meat industry is one of the leading sectors that have contributed to these negative impacts on biodiversity through land occupation, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and intensive use of resources. In order to effectively address the loss of biodiversity, there is an urgent need for integrated solutions that combine policy measures, technological innovations, changes in consumer behavior and global cooperation. Sustainable livestock management, monitoring carbon footprints using life cycle assessment tools, changing feeding habits, implementing sustainable livestock systems, and applying zero deforestation policies are promising strategies for reducing damage to biodiversity. However, despite the potential of these approaches, their implementation faces limitations such as economic barriers, traceability issues, and cultural resistance to changing dietary habits. This paper assesses how the meat industry contributes to biodiversity loss through land use, emissions, and invasive species, emphasizing the environmental effects of livestock farming, and reviews recent policy and technological efforts aimed at mitigation.
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