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Animal Agriculture Kills 18 Billion Animals (That Never Make it to the Table)

Every year, eighteen billion animals meet a tragic fate, either dying or being killed through animal agriculture before reaching someone’s plate. This startling revelation comes from the research of environmental scientists Juliane Klaura, Laura Scherer, and Gerard Breeman, who have shed light on the global scale of animal loss within the food production chain.

The study, which focused on the six most common domesticated animals (chickens, pigs, sheep, turkeys, goats, and cows), uncovered a distressing reality: 18 billion animals, amounting to 52.4 million tons of bone-free, edible meat, go to waste annually. This figure represents approximately one-sixth of the world’s total meat production. What’s more, this waste has significant implications for both animal welfare and the fight against Climate change.

The reasons for this colossal meat loss vary across regions. In developing countries, losses occur early in the process due to diseases affecting livestock during raising or meat spoilage during storage and transportation. In contrast, industrialized nations witness most of their waste at the consumption stage, with issues like supermarket overstocking, restaurants serving oversized portions, and households discarding leftovers. The United States, South Africa, and Brazil are highlighted as countries where meat waste is particularly pronounced, while India stands out for its relatively low levels of meat wastage per capita.

The study emphasizes the critical role of reducing meat waste in addressing both animal welfare concerns and environmental impact. Livestock contributes to 14.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, with beef being identified as the greatest polluter. Juliane Klaura, along with her colleagues, also delved into the consciousness and sentience of livestock, acknowledging the challenge of quantifying animal suffering.

While acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Klaura stresses the need for region-specific solutions. Developing countries may benefit from improvements in animal conditions and meat storage and transportation, whereas behavioral change is the key in Western nations. Klaura acknowledges the difficulty of implementing dietary transitions, noting that people often resist such changes, feeling like something is being taken away from them. However, raising awareness about the staggering number of animals that never make it to the table could serve as a crucial catalyst for positive action. Hopefully, these staggering statistics can urge people to become vegan!

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