Jane Goodall warns of the harmful effects of intensive livestock farming

The British Ethologist Jane Goodall, Prince of Asturias Award for Research in 2003, has warned this Tuesday of the “pernicious” effects of intensive livestock farming on the environment, human health, rural economy and animal welfare, and has asked Spain to lead the ban of the macrofarms.

In a public letter released by the Joan Goodall Institute of Spain, which has its headquarters in Barcelona, ​​the doctor in Ethology from the University of Cambridge and an honorary doctorate from more than 45 universities in the world, wanted to participate in the open debate on the macro-farms of animals.

“I have read that there is a debate in Spain, as in many countries of the world, about the impact of intensive livestock. When I first learned some facts about the industrial agricultureAt the end of the 1960s, I was shocked, “recalls the primatologist, who in 2015 received the International Catalonia Prize.

“I had grown up in a world where farm animals grazed, frolicked or cackled outside. Then I looked at the meat on my plate and thought: this represents fear, pain and death of each animal. So i did vegetarian and after learning about the cruel confinement of dairy cows and laying hens, I am now mostly vegan, “confesses Goodall, who has also received the Legion of Honor of the Republic of France and is a Dame of the British Empire.

Multiple threats

According to the ethologist, the debate on industrial macro-farms “it is opportune“because” we face, in addition to the covid pandemic, to twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, and intensive agriculture contributes to both problems. “

Goodall says that intensive livestock farming means that “billions of animals on factory farms around the world must be fed and vast areas are deforested to grow feed grains, huge amounts of fossil fuels are used to transport grain to animals, animals to slaughter and meat to table, which contributes to higher CO2 emissions“.

It also warns that “se needs a lot of water to transform vegetable protein into animal and animals produce large amounts of methane, a gas of greenhouse effect, during digestion “.

It also denounces that “the slurry stored in rafts emit harmful gases, including ammonia, and discharges pollute land and water. An important problem in Spain, one of the main producers of pork in the world. “

Goodall also warns of threats to the Human health by “the use of antibiotics in factory farms, which allows bacteria to develop more and more resistance and many antibiotics are no longer useful to treat human diseases.”

Ask for more respect

The scientist reproaches that “the lack of respect for animals has also led to the trafficking of wild Fauna: animals are often sold and confined in unsanitary conditions in wildlife markets where a pathogen can jump from an animal to a human; if it binds to a cell in the human body, a new zoonotic disease can occur. “

“Covid-19 almost certainly started in a chinese wildlife market. But many zoonotic diseases also originate from factory farms where animals are herded. The health and safety of those who work in such factory farms are often affected, particularly those who work in slaughterhouses, “he stresses.

For Goodall, macro animal farms too pose a “threat to livelihoods in rural areas, as large factory farms displace small extensive ranching farms, and as many companies are automated and compete to produce cheap food using few low-paid workers, they create fewer jobs overall. “

“Science has conclusively shown that cows, pigs, poultry and other farm animals they are sentient beings, capable of feeling emotions such as despair, fear and pain, “says the ethologist, who is 87 years old.

The new law in favor of animals

Goodall recalls that Spain just approved a law that recognizes that pets are sentient beings, and ensures that “this is true also for other animals, such as pigs, cows or exploited birds, or bulls still tortured in certain traditional ‘shows’.

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“Fortunately, there are more and more scientists, associations, citizens and responsible politicians who warn about the dangers of this type of livestock farming,” writes Goodall, who suggests that Spain take “leadership in banning factory farms and creating campaigns for citizens to understand their negative impact on the environment, human health, the economy and the well-being of billions of sensitive animals. “

“I hope that more and more politicians and authorities from different countries speak out against intensive livestock farming and climate change. The time to act is now,” concludes Dr. Goodall.