A new report, “Meat Atlas: Facts and Figures About the Animals We Eat,” presents some alarming facts about the global impact of industrial meat and dairy production.

Compiled and published by a joint effort of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe, the report “aims to catalyst the debate over the need for better, safer and more sustainable food and farming and advocates clear individual and political solutions.”

The report claims that the way we farm and eat meat and dairy “needs a radical rethink.”  The publication emphasizes this by focusing on core lessons about meat and the world as illustrated below.

Heinrich Böll Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe

Told through short sections of text and a series of infographics, the report covers a variety of issues from the slaughter industry to antibiotics and pesticides found in animal products. It’s truly a must-read for anyone searching for a clear picture of the ways in which animal farming and consumption impacts animals, the Earth, and our own health.

For a little preview, check out the infographic below that shows the number of animals slaughtered for meat by animal type and country. Heartbreaking, right?

Heinrich Böll Foundation and Friends of the Earth Europe

While the report has some depressing data, there is some good news: the full report is free for all to read! So you can find it right here, and spread it around with ease!

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons