有机农耕有助于重建和取代土壤中的碳。(最近在澳洲新南威尔斯州举行的碳耕会议上,约翰‧克劳馥教授提出的研究报告)
如果所有可耕地都转变成种植有机蔬菜的农田,不仅能喂饱所有人,还能免除畜牧业所产生的 50%以上的废气,并吸收大气中高达 40%的温室气体。(罗代尔研究所〔Rodale Institute〕,2008年)
用于肉类生产的土地得以恢复到自然状态,从而有助于从大气中快速吸收大量的二氧化碳。(荷兰环境评估委员会)
动物养殖场经营方式的改变,例如:提高牲畜饲养方法的效率、改善粪肥处理等,都不足以达成英国2030年温室气体排放的目标。减少肉类和乳品的生产和消费,才能更有效地减缓全球暖化,同时增进大众健康和挽救生命。(「因应气候变迁的保健之道」,《刺胳针》〔The Lancet〕医学杂志,2009年)
畜牧业减排计划,例如:提供动物不同的食物来源、使用动物粪肥作为燃料等,只减少几个百分点的碳排量,而实际上却可能造成更多的食品质量和道德问题。(新西兰农业研究所〔AgResearch〕一项为期10年的研究) 必须减少肉类和乳品消费量,才能有效地将畜牧业的温室气体排放量减至最少。(英国食品道德委员会〔Food Ethics Council〕执行长汤姆麦克米伦〔Tom MacMillan〕)
回收甲烷作为能源是不适当的计划。
从工厂化养殖场的牲畜粪肥中回收甲烷,是完全不适当的作法,因为:
大部分的甲烷是由动物肠道发酵产生的,其数量是粪肥的3倍多。
这个回收系统在技术上或成本上并非完全可行。
沼气池系统通常是设在养殖场里,每天都要收集大量的液体粪肥。
工厂化养殖场所造成的许多严重的环境问题仍未解决,更别提能由回收甲烷得到任何利益。
全球暖化/温室气体排放
生物多样性丧失
大量耗费水、食物、抗生素和石化燃料
空气、水、土壤等污染
不卫生的细菌和病毒滋生的温床
参考来源
Crawford, J. (2009). Can Soil Choose To Sequester Carbon? Unpublished presentation on Carbon Farming & Expo. New South Wales, Australia, November 4-5th, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.fromthesoilup.com.au/15/images/stories/Oct%2009/conference_program1-2a.pdf Hough, A. (2010, Feb 3). Britain facing food crisis as world’s soil ‘vanishes in 60 years’. The Telegraph. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/farming/6828878/Britain-facing-food-crisis-as-worlds-soil-vanishes-in-60-years.html LaSalle, T. J. and Hepperly, P. (2008). Regenerative Organic Farming: A Solution to Global Warming. Rodale Institute. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from Rodale Institute website http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/files/Rodale_Research_Paper-07_30_08.pdf Stehfest, E., Bouwman, L., van Vuuren, D.P., den Elzen, M.G.J., Eickhout, B. and Kabat, P. (2009, February 4). Climate benefits of changing diet. PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.pbl.nl/en/publications/2009/Climate-benefits-of-changing-diet The Health Benefits of Tackling Climate Change. (2009). The Lancet. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://download.thelancet.com/flatcontentassets/series/health-and-climate-change.pdf Methane Sources and Emissions (2010, June 22). U.S. EPA. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/methane/sources.html FAQ: How do animal wastes create methane emissions? (2010, October 19). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/agstar/anaerobic/faq.html#q4 Tieman R. (2010, January 26). Livestock: Burping cow is just part of the problem. An article on a decade-long study by New Zealand’s AgResearch. Financial Times. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/bdde1dec-0a00-11df-8b23-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1EWd9Zq9e Meat consumption trends and environmental implications (2007). U.K. Food Ethics Council. Retrieved January 11, 2011 from http://www.foodethicscouncil.org/system/files/businessforum201107.pdf