animal agriculture archives - planet forward - 克罗地亚vs加拿大让球 //www.getitdoneaz.com/tag/animal-agriculture/ inspiring stories to 2022年卡塔尔世界杯官网 tue, 11 apr 2023 20:13:59 +0000 en-us hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 unsustainable dairy in the united states //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/unsustainable-dairy-united-states/ thu, 09 feb 2023 17:22:27 +0000 http://dev.planetforward.com/2023/02/09/unsustainable-dairy-in-the-united-states/ changing trends in the dairy industry mean that smaller dairies on the east coast are having a more difficult time competing with unsustainable megadairies in the western united states. 

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this video paints a picture of what the dairy industry of today looks like to people from chenango county, new york. this area used to be one of the major hubs of dairy production in the united states but the largest figures in the industry have sinced moved elsewhere. i wanted to better understand why dairy farms have largely moved to the west coast. what do the experts think of this shift from east to west? is the united states dairy industry sustainable in it’s current form?

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agnext: the future of sustainable animal agriculture //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/agnext/ fri, 18 nov 2022 17:09:45 +0000 http://dev.planetforward.com/2022/11/18/agnext-the-future-of-sustainable-animal-agriculture/ in this video, agnext's dr. kim stackhouse-lawson and dr. sara place discuss the future of sustainable animal agriculture.

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agnext is a research group at colorado state university (csu) dedicated to finding sustainable solutions for animal agriculture. according to the director of agnext, dr. kim stackhouse-lawson, the growing research collaborative has built the climate smart research facility – the largest greenhouse gas emissions research facility for beef production in the country. with this new research infrastructure and exciting hires like dr. sara place, associate professor of feedlot systems, agnext will bring cutting-edge science to the animal agriculture industry.

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growing soil | managing wild at mcginley ranch //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/growing-soil-managing-wild-at-mcginley-ranch/ wed, 19 oct 2022 12:37:57 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/growing-soil-managing-wild-at-mcginley-ranch/ can eating meat save the planet? in this short documentary, ranchers and scientists at mcginley ranch discuss regenerative ranching practices and ecological economics. 

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in september 2022, i had the privilege of visiting mcginley ranch of the turner institute of ecoagriculture near gordon, nebraska, to learn about regenerative ranching and ecological economics for conservation and commerce. 

on nearly 80,000 acres of pasture, a herd of about 4,000 bison is supporting a community of more than 8,000 organisms. these bison are carefully managed and grazed on parcels of land to create subtle disturbances in the vegetation and soil below. grazing disturbances create habitat diversity which sustains life on the prairie and improves its watershed. 

in this short film, dr. carter kruse and ranch manager tyrell mcclain explain the importance of regenerative bison ranching and its lucrative opportunities. 

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a sustainable diet without going broke – is it possible? //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/sustainable-diet-affordability/ fri, 28 jun 2019 10:32:29 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/a-sustainable-diet-without-going-broke-is-it-possible/ the transition to plant-based diets has been gaining ground recently — for many reasons. these diets are more sustainable, and can be easy for those with means, but can be hard to come by for others.

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the transition to plant-based diets has been gaining ground recently. a report by globaldata claims that the numbers of vegans, or people eating exclusively plant-based, has risen by 5% since 2014 and is continuing to increase. the united nations food and agriculture organization has claimed that intensive animal agriculture plays a large role in contributing to global climate change, excessive water usage, and deforestation. it’s more important now than ever that we deal with these issues by changing some of our habits — but not everyone has equal access to the means to make that possible.

rebecca, a college student from washington, d.c., started eating a plant-based diet a couple of months ago. she explains, “the transition to being vegan was relatively easy for me… but… i am lucky and not everyone may be able to afford to eat a plant-based or healthier diet.”  

unfortunately, many people in the united states live in food deserts, or places where there is no access to affordable, healthy food. this gap of opportunity makes it harder for those in low-income communities to purchase fresh produce.

according to the food empowerment project, “…many food deserts contain an overabundance of fast food chains selling cheap ‘meat’ and dairy-based foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt.” food deserts also have no easily accessible supermarkets, and a staggering 2.3 million people live over a mile away from a supermarket, while not having access to a car.

fast food may be cheap in price, but is expensive in what economists call an “external cost,” or the costs imposed on the environment and people in the making of that product, such as the amount of water it took to grow the food, or the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to transport it — not to mention the expense of potential health impacts.

the foods that are most expensive in those costs are cheapest in price due in part to government subsidies. most of the subsidies for agriculture go to the largest, wealthiest companies which produce staple products such as corn — nearly half of which is fed to livestock in the united states, according to the u.s. department of agriculture. the goal of subsidies is to provide a program that lowers the price for the consumer, but it may be making the wrong foods cheaper.

when talking about her experience so far with a plant-based diet, rebecca also notes, “replacements for animal products normally cost more than the original product, and it isn’t always easy to find good vegan options at fast food restaurants…”

without trying to replace animal products with fake meats and fake cheeses, buying the ingredients that would make up a whole foods diet can be a more affordable way to eat plant-based. however, this does not solve the problem for those who still have no access to supermarkets, and no time to prepare meals. this inconvenience, paired with the fact that it is simply not economical for those in food deserts, makes it difficult or impossible for some to maintain a healthy and sustainable diet.

residents in some communities have started gardens, providing a healthier alternative to fast foods for their local community. this is a great start, but government subsidies could be used to make nutritious foods cheaper, and therefore provide an opportunity for people to buy more plant-based products. as rebecca points out, not everyone has the same ability to maintain a consistent healthy diet. although eating more plant-based is sustainable, until it becomes more affordable and accessible, many people will not have that luxury. 

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mushroom farming: feeding communities and fighting climate change //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/mushroom-farm-climate-change/ wed, 06 mar 2019 22:46:20 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/mushroom-farming-feeding-communities-and-fighting-climate-change/ indoor mushroom farms offer a local alternative to meat and imported mushrooms with high greenhouse gas emissions.

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after visiting a local indoor mushroom farm, we were inspired by their low waste model. the farm uses waste from local new york sawmills to grow nutritious oyster mushroom, then sells the remainder as compost to gardeners and other farms. the ability to grow year round provides fresh produce in a part of the us with a short outdoor growing season. it’s part of a growing local food movement aimed at strengthening local economies and reducing the carbon emissions from transporting food long distances.

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animal agriculture and water conservation //www.getitdoneaz.com/story/animal-agriculture-and-water-conservation-0/ sat, 10 mar 2018 04:12:24 +0000 http://dpetrov.2create.studio/planet/wordpress/animal-agriculture-and-water-conservation/ an insight into an often overlooked consumer of freshwater — the animal agriculture industry.

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an insight into an often overlooked consumer of freshwater — the animal agriculture industry. this podcast shares statistics about livestock water usage and steps one can take to lower their contribution to the issue.

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