简介:

Massive growth in meat production In the second half of the 20th Century, worldwide meat production increased roughly fivefold and meat consumption has soared in countries that are rapidly industrialising, such as China. Livestock production has become the world’s largest user of agricultural land. The farm animal population has expanded dramatically to meet demand. Today, the growing human population - already in excess of 6 billion - shares the planet and its resources at any one time with nearly 1 billion pigs, 1.3 billion cattle, 1.8 billion sheep and goats and 15.4 billion chickens. As the intensive poultry industry (in particular) spreads to and within many areas of the world, there are already twice as many chickens as there are humans on earth to eat them. Consumption of dairy produce, eggs and seafood has also increased rapidly.