Livestock farming, a widespread agricultural practice, involves the management and breeding of domestic animals—inclusive of livestock and farm animals—for the objective of obtaining their meat and other related products such as milk, eggs, and leather. This economic activity facilitates human consumption needs by providing meat, milk, wool, and other goods like honey and fur.
Issues Associated with Livestock Farming
Sadly, livestock farming often ensnares farmers in notoriously exploitative contracts that entails poor working conditions, low income, high vulnerability to market forces and extreme stress. The impact extends beyond just farmers, affecting the overall well-being of communities dependent on these industries.
Transition Towards Plant-Based Operations
The transition concept pertains to restructuring food systems based on principles of sustainability, decarbonization, and optimal use of resources—financial, environmental, and human. Unlike traditional industrial agriculture that tends to be exploitative in nature, these transitions promote practices void of damage to animals, farming communities, and the environment. There’s a common misbelief that transitioning to plant-rich diets could negatively influence food distribution and nutrition security. In reality, it allows for better food calorie availability, potentially serving an additional four billion people.
The Importance of the Transition
There are several vital reasons why this transition is significant. Firstly, industrialized livestock production poses serious threats to human health and psychological well-being. The risk of injuries, illness, and trauma borne by workers impacts not only individuals but also their families and communities. Transitions to plant-based operations allow for healthier, safer work environments.
Climate-Friendly Food Systems
Next, a move away from industrialised livestock production empowers farmers to protect the climate and the land they work upon. With current trends, the livestock sector could account for up to 81% of the 1.5 degrees Celsius emissions budget by 2050. Climate change, instigated by livestock production, in turn threatens livestock, causing a vicious cycle detrimental to farmers’ livelihoods.
Job Creation Through Plant-Based Operations
According to the International Labour Organisation, transitioning towards sustainable economies can catalyze job creation, ensure better job quality, increase social justice, and reduce poverty. It’s projected that this transition could create 24-25 million jobs, far surpassing the estimated job losses.
Challenges in the Transition
Despite the benefits, challenges exist, including the lack of access to technology and investment in farming, lack of awareness of emission reduction benefits, lack of institutional support for diversification within the food sector, and financial constraints for farmers, especially rural smallholders, to adopt sustainable agricultural practices.
State of India’s Livestock and The Emerging Plant-Based Operations
India, known as the world’s highest livestock owner, boasts a livestock population of 535.78 million. The country has recently seen an increase in startups providing plant-based meats or smart proteins, which replicate the taste and texture of animal meat but are made entirely from plant ingredients. This trend is fostering a new wave of cruelty-free and more eco-friendly consumption habits.
The Way Forward
Given the science and socioeconomic data, maintaining the status quo in livestock farming is no longer viable. Enabling a just livestock transition demands ambitious political action at all levels and policies aimed at increasing plant-based food consumption. This would not only prevent emissions leakage but also foster a shift towards sustainable food production and consumption.