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Chapter 12: Problem 3

How do sustainable animal farming and industrial-style animal farming affect the environment on different scales?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Sustainable animal farming typically has a less negative or even positive impact on the environment by maintaining soil health, reducing water use, and enhancing biodiversity and produces less greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, industrial-style animal farming often causes significant environmental problems including water and air pollution, soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and high greenhouse gas emissions. However, the total impact can also vary based on the scale and number of farms.

Step by step solution

01

Define Animal Farming Types

Start by defining the two types of farming. 'Sustainable animal farming' refers to agricultural practices that respect the ecological limits, do not degrade the environment, and ensure animal welfare. On the other hand, 'industrial-style animal farming' refers to farming practices where animals are raised in high-density, confined conditions to maximize production efficiency.
02

Explore Environmental Impact of Sustainable Animal Farming

Dive into the environmental impact of sustainable animal farming. This type of farming usually has a positive or neutral effect on the environment as it emphasizes maintaining soil health, reducing water use, and enhancing biodiversity. It also tends to produce less greenhouse gas emissions compared to industrial farming.
03

Explore Environmental Impact of Industrial-Style Animal Farming

Next, examine the environmental damage caused by industrial-style animal farming. This type of farming is often associated with various environmental problems such as water pollution from runoff, air pollution from gases produced by manure, degradation of soil fertility due to overgrazing, loss of biodiversity, and significant greenhouse gas emissions.
04

Comparison on Different Scales

Lastly, compare the differences in environmental impact at different scales - from local damage such as water contamination in nearby communities to global issues like climate change caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions. Also, consider mentioning the cumulative effect of many small or medium-sized sustainable farms compared to a few large-scale industrial farms.

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