Press Releases from the EVU
Brussels, 25 June 2003
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 vegetable 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
e-Mail
website: http://www.european-vegetarian.org
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