Feeding More with Less
The 2008 food crisis, precipitated in part by increased biofuels production, was a brief glimpse at the vulnerability of our global food system. Food abundance has given away to increasing scarcity as food consumption has outpaced production, resulting in a drawndown of global grain reserves to their lowest levels ever (40 days in March 2008). When reserves dip below 60-70 days supply, the result is increased prices, hunger, and hunger-related deaths.
The good news is that we have an untapped, relatively easy way to increase crop yield, decrease prices, and improve the efficiency of our global food system.
Foods from animal origin (meat, dairy, eggs, etc) are costly and resource-intensive. Animals are inefficient converters, requiring much more food and protein than they produce. By advocating reduced meat consumption as part of the solution, we recommend a course of action that improves public health, increases global food security, reduces greenhouse gases and pollution, and conserves scarce resources.
Promoting reduced global meat consumption, provides unparalleled benefits that make it a powerful addition to many social justice agendas. Well-Fed World is an advocacy campaign to create that change.
The UN predicts livestock production to double in 50 years. The 2006 UN FAO report, "Livestock's Long Shadow," warns that livestock production is predicted to double between 2000-2050. The report details the harm caused by increasing livestock production. Reversing this trend would have far-reaching benefits as the livestock sector:
Visit the Global Warming page for the UN report and summary. |
Consumption Disparity |
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High-income countries consume three times more meat per capita as low-income countries.
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Americans consume 40% more meat per capita than Europeans.
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Please read on to find out how reversing meat overconsumption can benefit your cause.
