A vegetarian way of life can lead to the alleviation of World Hunger
On 23 June 2003, the President of
the United States Bush opened the
“Conference and Expo on
Agricultural Science and
Technology” in Sacramento, and
some days before, on 20 June, the
Director-General of the Food and
Agriculture Organisation of the
United Nations (FAO) gave his
keynote address at the “International
Conference on the Right to Food and
the Costs of Hunger” in Rome, stating
that the “right to food is fundamental
to human existence.”
No doubt, great efforts are being
made everywhere in the fight against
global hunger but the world community
has not yet learned to deal with
this mighty opponent. Maybe the traditional
approach is not the right one
and it is time to consider other alternatives?
In this context, the European
Vegetarian Union would like to
stress the virtues of a vegetarian diet,
which without a doubt could
improve global food security considerably.
Here are just some of the
problems the world community is
facing now and in the decades to
come (based on the findings of the
FAO Study “World agriculture:
towards 2015/2030”):
Presently 776 million people are
undernourished (one in six) and even
though cereal production has
increased by almost a billion tonnes
since the mid-1960s, a large percentage
is not used for human benefit:
Just over a third of total world cereal
yield is fed to animals each year as
well as about a quarter of the world
fish production.
Even though there are presently
impressive differences in meat-consumption,
ranging from 120 kg in
America to 25.5 kg in developing
countries, the FAO study expects
further increases right across the
globe, albeit in varying magnitude.
So if the present course of development
is not changed, in absolute
terms the number of animals will
still need to rise considerably for the
6.8 billion citizens of tomorrow’s
world: an extra 360 million cattle
and buffaloes, 560 million extra
sheep and goats, and 190 million
extra pigs will be needed in 2030 –
rises of 24, 32 and 22% respectively.
It is expected that these animals will
be raised in industrial enterprises and
that by selective breeding they are
going to be larger and fatter, attaining
a cattle-carcass weight of 211 kg
(compared to 174 kg in 1967).
This spectacular increase in livestock
will tremendously add to the
pressure on the environment.
Already today livestock are the
world’s largest user of agricultural
land: in 1999 some 3460 million ha
were permanent pastures - more than
twice the area used for crops.
Overstocking often leads to soil
degradation and the clearing of rainforests
brings about desertification.
Growing livestock trade increases
the risk of disease transmissions and
involves serious environmental
problems - just to mention a few:
deforestation, soil erosion and -sealing,
salinization, water pollution by
nitrates, phosphates and pesticides,
the development of greenhouse
gases methane and nitrous oxide and
an unabated loss of biodiversity.
Livestock account for about 40 % of
global ammonia emissions (expected
to be at least 60% higher by 2030),
which are one of the major causes of
acid rain. Hazards for human health
must also not be forgotten because in
some countries the slaughter animals
are reared with antibiotics and
growth hormones.
The European Vegetarian Union
is concerned that the vegetarian
option to all these problems is not
studied seriously – or not at all. In
this context just a simple statistic: On
the official website of the FAO the
search brings 180 results when asked
for information on meat, meat-consumption
and slaughter compared to
two hits regarding vegetarianism,
plant-based food and animal welfare.
If we are considering a threatened
future environment monopolised by
meat-production, it is urgent that we
look for less destructive alternatives.
Vegetarianism is an ideal solution
because it combines food security,
environmental benefits, animal welfare
and, last but by no means least,
improved human well-being. In their
recently published report “Diet,
Nutrition and the Prevention of
Chronic Diseases”, the World Health
Organization praises the benefits of
fruit and vegetables in connection
with a multitude of health problems.
Vegetarianism offers a promising
and smooth way into the future and
that is why the European Vegetarian
Union appeals to all decision-makers
to invest more research into this
peaceful lifestyle.
European Vegetarian Union
26, Rue Moncoureur, B 7011 Ghlin, Belgium.
Email : evu@ivu.org
Website: http://www.european-vegetarian.org
(This text is also available in French and German)
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