Latest news with #PhilipLymbery
Scoop
2 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Factory Farms And The Next Pandemic: How Industrial Animal Agriculture Fuels Global Health Threats
Throughout human history, zoonotic diseases, illnesses that jump from animals to humans, have shaped civilizations, triggered pandemics, and rewritten the course of economies. The Black Death, which ravaged Europe in the 14th century, originated from bacteria transmitted by fleas that lived on rats. Ebola, HIV, and SARS-CoV-2, which caused COVID-19, all had animal origins. As humanity's relationship with animals has become increasingly industrialized through factory farming, the risk of zoonotic spillover has escalated. Some diseases are transmitted through direct contact with animals, such as rabies from a bite or tuberculosis from infected cattle. Others spread through the consumption of poorly cooked meat, contaminated dairy products, or wet markets that sell live animals. Vector-borne diseases, where insects like mosquitoes and ticks act as intermediaries, transfer pathogens from animals to humans. Factory Farms and the Growing Threat of Zoonotic Pandemics The intensification of industrial agriculture has amplified these risks. The crowded, high-density conditions of factory farms create a breeding ground for disease. Animals raised in confined spaces experience high levels of stress, which weakens their immune systems and increases their susceptibility to infections. When a pathogen emerges in this environment, it can mutate rapidly and spread with alarming efficiency. This is particularly concerning with influenza viruses, which frequently originate in birds and pigs before adapting to humans. Bird flu has been detected in sheep, raising concerns about the virus's ability to cross species boundaries. Such a discovery underscores the unpredictability of zoonotic diseases, particularly in terms of cross-species transmission and the potential for rapid evolution of health threats. Philip Lymbery, author and global CEO of Compassion in World Farming, thinks the danger is serious: 'Factory farms are a ticking time bomb for future pandemics,' he says. 'Hundreds of coronaviruses are in circulation, most of them among animals including pigs, camels, bats, and cats. Sometimes those viruses jump to humans.' Antibiotics, widely used in industrial farming to promote growth and prevent disease, exacerbate the issue. Overuse has led to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can jump to humans through direct exposure, contaminated food, or environmental runoff from farms. The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that antibiotic resistance could become one of the greatest threats to human health, rendering common infections untreatable. COVID-19 was a wake-up call, but it was not the first time a zoonotic virus wreaked havoc on global health. The HIV/AIDS epidemic, which originated from nonhuman primates, has killed over 40 million people since it emerged in the 20th century. The 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, which was linked to pig farming, spread globally within months. Bird flu strains continue to pose a significant threat, with highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) causing sporadic human infections, resulting in a fatality rate of over 50 percent. Reimagining Protein: Innovations That Could Prevent the Next Pandemic Despite these risks, the global demand for animal protein is surging. Humans now eat 350 million metric tons of meat annually, nearly 'a thousand Empire State Buildings in carcass weight,' according to academic and writer Tim Searchinger. The United Nations estimates that meat production will increase by more than 70 percent by 2050. This trajectory presents challenges not only for climate change, deforestation, and water pollution but also for the likelihood of future pandemics. However, emerging innovations in food technology present possible solutions. Precision fermentation and cultivated meat are being explored as methods to reduce dependence on traditional livestock. Precision fermentation, which is used to produce dairy-identical proteins without the need for cows, utilizes engineered microbes to create compounds such as whey and casein. Cultivated milk, bio-identical to cow milk but grown in a bioreactor rather than in a cow, is expected to enter the market soon. Cultivated meat, grown from animal cells in bioreactors, provides real meat without the need for slaughterhouses or crowded factory farms. These technologies have the potential to transform global protein production, significantly lowering the risk of zoonotic disease spillover. Because they bypass live animals, they eliminate the risks associated with confined feeding operations, antibiotic resistance, and cross-species viral mutations. Studies suggest that precision fermentation and cultivated dairy could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96 percent compared to conventional dairy farming. Jeff Tripician, who has worked in the meat industry for 40 years, recently moved to head a cultivated meat company based in the Netherlands. He told the Future of Foods Interviews podcast that, 'Cultivated meat is the only solution on the table.' In regard to bird flu, he went on to say that, 'Livestock disease could wipe out huge areas of herds. We're seeing that in the U.S. with egg-laying hens. Eight percent of the supply has been euthanized.' Challenges for alternative proteins remain, including regulatory hurdles, production scaling issues, and consumer acceptance barriers. Governments worldwide are still determining how to classify and approve these products for sale, with Singapore leading the way in regulatory approval for cultivated meat. The U.S., Israel, and UK regulators are following closely behind, but widespread commercialization is still a few years away. Affordability is also a concern. Although costs are declining, cultivated meat remains significantly more expensive than conventional meat. However, as production scales, prices are expected to fall. A Turning Point: Reducing Pandemic Risk Through Food System Reform The transition away from industrial animal farming will take time, but the need for change is apparent. If the world continues down its current path, the risks of future pandemics will only grow. Addressing this problem requires serious attention, including government policies that promote alternative proteins, investment in food technology, and increased public awareness of the health impacts of factory farming. Experts in epidemiology, virology, and food innovation continue to examine the intersection of food production and disease risk. Dr. Michael Greger, physician and author of Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching, has long warned about the pandemic potential of factory farming. Dr. Rob Wallace, an evolutionary biologist and author of Big Farms Make Big Flu, examines how industrial agriculture fuels the evolution of viruses. Journalists covering the relationship between food, health, and climate change will need to monitor closely how food production impacts disease risk. There is no single solution, but reducing reliance on industrially farmed animals could significantly lower the likelihood of the next global pandemic. Author Bio: Alex Crisp is a freelance journalist focusing on environment, animal welfare, and new technology. He has a background in law, journalism, and teaching. He is the host of theFuture of Foods Interviews podcast.
Scotsman
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Children's word of the year is a reminder that humans were born to be kind
Being kind has a physical effect on the brain that makes us feel good, demonstrating our natural instincts are to look after one another Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I'll never forget when I first met Joanna Lumley, how her natural kindness shone through. As a young lad, I was busy locking this celebrity superstar in a cage for the cameras. She noticed that I'd cut myself and immediately moved to help. She could have just ignored it, left me to it. But she didn't. This megastar wanted to help, showing natural kindness. It's a moment that stayed with me. Her genuineness and empathy shone through. As it has throughout the 35 years since that we've worked together to promote kindness to animals. Acts of empathy and kindness, no matter how small, can make such a difference. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With so much going on in the world right now, these natural rays of sunshine, of hope and humanity, are more important than ever. Which is why it's so encouraging to see that 'kindness' has just been chosen by children as the Word of the Year. Actress Joanna Lumley has taken part in animal rights campaigns and showed her compassionate side when Philip Lymbery accidentally cut himself during one event (Picture: Etienne Ansotte) | AFP via Getty Images A fundamental aspect of human nature Of all the words that thousands of young people aged six to 14 could have picked, they plumped for the one that reflects empathy, tolerance, and the need to look after each other. It speaks volumes. At a time of growing anxiety and instability, in which it's all too easy to think we're living in a world that doesn't care, young people are showing the way. As human beings, we have an inherent capacity for empathy, compassion and altruism, known as 'natural kindness'. This is not just a learned behaviour but a fundamental aspect of human nature and is believed to have developed as a survival mechanism, fostering cooperation and social bonds within communities. By helping others, individuals enhance their own chances of survival and well-being, creating a mutually beneficial environment. In short, we were born to be good to each other. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad From a psychological perspective, natural kindness is linked to the release of oxytocin and endorphins, neurotransmitters which reduce stress and elevate feelings of happiness. Kindness, therefore, is an important facet of our mental and emotional health. The chemical responses triggered by acts of kindness reinforce the behaviour, thereby encouraging us to do it again. That's how, if we let it, kindness can become a habit, requiring less effort to do it. The more we are kind, the easier it is to be so, and the better we feel. Cost-of-living crisis Of course, acts of kindness include everyday things like holding a door open for someone, offering a compliment, or giving someone a smile. It could also be sending a handwritten card or taking the time to listen to someone with a kind ear. It can take the form of picking up litter or donating to a foodbank or a charity. A pioneering example of natural kindness was shown by a school in North Lanarkshire which launched 'kindness lockers' in response to the cost-of-living crisis. A discreet helping hand was thereby extended to pupils in need, giving them access to things like warm clothes, snacks or toiletries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kindness is a force that naturally increases the happiness and wellbeing of both the giver and the receiver. By nature, we are empathetic and caring towards others. Yet, there is a great deal around us that drives us away from this natural inclination. We can become blinded to the effects on others, be it of our own kind or of other creatures. We can lose sight of how a single-minded pursuit of economic achievement individually or collectively can have a profound impact on others around us. Which is why a rediscovery of the power of kindness as part of human nature is so important. To see that doing good in the world means we are doing good to ourselves. There is mutual benefit to be had in putting the humanity back into being human. There is, after all, a reason why taking action to reduce suffering is referred to as being 'humane'. Kindness towards animals In farming, humane practices such as those that are regenerative or organic involve giving animals the conditions they need for their best lives – the ability to roam, to flap their wings or stretch their legs by running and jumping and feeling fresh air and sunshine on their backs. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad By doing this and restoring animals to their natural role as part of mixed farming, we also create the conditions for combatting climate change by capturing carbon in the soil. Driven by approaching things from the starting point of kindness and harmony with nature, these are win-win solutions. They can help bring back wildlife to our countryside, which in turn means that our fields are once again serenaded by the songs of songbirds like skylarks. Treating animals, both farmed and wild, with compassion and respect, as I covered in depth recently, is the single biggest thing we can do to end global hunger and ensure we can feed everyone today and into the future. Natural kindness is a fundamental aspect of human nature, deeply rooted in our evolutionary history, psychological make-up, and philosophical beliefs. By embracing it, we can help create a more connected, compassionate world. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
