Industrial meat production vs pastoralism

In a policy brief issued by the Centre for Environment and Development (CDE) of Bern University – Sustainable livestock production? Industrial agriculture versus pastoralism (2015, 6pp) – industrialised meat production is compared with mobile pastoralism. The former is described as wasteful and energy-intensive; it claims excessive shares of land and crops that could be eaten by humans. In contrast, mobile livestock-keepers can produce meat, milk and other animal products in a sustainable way. Examples are brought from Tanzania and Switzerland. The policy brief calls for acknowledgement that industrial livestock production is not sustainable, internalising the externalised costs of such production, recognising the value of mobile pastoralism and giving it appropriate support. It urges consumers to eat meat only if it is sustainably produced.

Posted on 24 September 2016 in Value of Pastoralism