Intensive farming attributed to shorter human lifespans, says report

A new global report has revealed that factory farming, or intensive farming systems, is shortening human lifespans and fast-tracking environmental damage. 

Factory farming, according to the World Animal Protection Kenya, is an intensive method of raising a large number of chickens, pigs and dairy cows in confined, often indoor, spaces to produce meat, eggs, or milk as quickly and cheaply as possible.

Factory farming is reducing the lifespan of people and animals and creating irreversible damage to our environment, according to new research by the World Animal Protection.

World Animal Protection CEO Tricia Croasdell said there is a need to support countries in looking to the future of how they feed their populations without damaging human health, animals, and our planet.

“This research is clear: in order to achieve a better quality of life for people, we need a better quality of life for animals. This ultimately means prioritising plant- based diets, ending factory farming, and reducing the environmental impact that we are all facing if we don’t act,” Croasdell said.

Data from the World Animal Protection shows that in 2020, the production of factory-farmed animals reached 76 billion worldwide, with 46 per cent of chickens, pigs and cows farmed in China, Brazil, the USA, and Indonesia.

The highest consuming countries, on average per person, include Israel, Panama, Belarus and Qatar. The highest per capita consuming countries include Israel, Panama, Belarus and Qatar, with an estimated 10 animals consumed per person annually.

The Factory Farming Index (FFI) calculates that factory farming of chickens, pigs, and cows for eggs, meat and dairy causes 1.8 years of healthy life to be lost per person on average globally.

The authors attributed this to a number of factors, including antibiotic resistance, noting that 66,000 tonnes of antibiotics are used on factory-farmed chickens, pigs, and cows.

“This is double the amount used for humans. These antibiotics are used to prevent disease in crowded, unsanitary conditions. While they can be used to treat sick animals, they are also frequently given to healthy animals to compensate for the stress and disease risks associated with intensive farming practices,” the authors said.

Pulmonary disease is another factor, and that is due to the large volume of animal excreta factory farms emit ammonia, nitrous oxide and fine particulate matter, which have been linked to a range of pulmonary health conditions, especially in people living or working near these facilities.

“There is also excess meat consumption, particularly red and processed meat, which is linked to colorectal cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, kidney disease, and possibly dementia. This means that even if you don’t consume factory-farmed animal products, the system is likely reducing your lifespan through the antibiotic resistance and particulate emissions it causes,” the report read.

The report also noted that factory farming also has an increasingly large environmental impact and that it is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with the global agrifood system responsible for approximately 29.7 per cent of total emissions. It also causes around 25 per cent of total human-caused water pollution, related to excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

Beyond the major human health and environmental costs, the report further stated that there is immense animal suffering and incredibly short animal lifespan, which has become normalised and hidden from view in factory farming systems.

The report recommended that improving animal welfare can strengthen a country’s performance in the FFI, but the only lasting solution is to move away from factory farming and shift toward an equitable, humane, and sustainable food system.

“This means making plant-based foods a larger part of our diets while supporting small-scale producers who prioritise care for animals and the land, ensuring that any remaining animal farming meets the highest standards for welfare, environmental protection and human health,” the report added.