Factory Farming and GMOs in the United States - Coursework Example

Factory Farming and GMO’s in the United s Factory Farming and GMO’s in the United s Introduction According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 99 % of farm animals in the country are raised in factory farms. In an ideal situation, the establishment of large-scale agribusinesses and factory farms in a given area should lead to the creation of employment opportunities previously non-existent. The presence of these businesses should also lead to a higher demand for property situated in the area where the large-scale agribusinesses are located. The resultant effect will be an increase in property value. Local businesses may also benefit through the creation of multiple linkages. The overall multiplier effects will lead to an improved standard of living for the inhabitants of the area that is home to a large-scale agribusiness. The benefits described above lead to several questions. If factory farming is associated with such progress, why is there so much debate regarding its continued practice? Why do animal welfare groups and environmentalists attack this economic activity so vehemently? Proponents of factory farming and genetically modified organisms (GMO) argue that the two have been instrumental in the advancement and streamlining of food production in 21st century USA. Currently, a significant percentage of American crops are genetically modified. The percentage of GMO’s in food products consumed by Americans is experiencing rapid growth (Kantor, 2013). Since the end of the Second World War, increased food demands have led to consolidation of food production. The result has been the emergence of massive farms that take the form of large industrial facilities such as Tysons Foods Inc. These consolidated operations with the aid of advances in GMO technology- in some instances- have succeeded in high volume food production (Grace Foundation, 2014). The benefits associated with economies of scale makes it possible for operations to sell the food products to consumers at seemingly affordable prices. Critics of industrial agriculture argue that these massive companies enjoy enormous profits but pay little attention to the environment, welfare of the animals in their farms, health of the consumers, quality of soil and water, and food safety (Grace Foundation, 2014). This essay seeks to examine the wrong doings of factory farming and genetically modified organisms (GMO’s). It also seeks to advance the argument that rather than encourage people to consume fewer animal products, in an effort to create less demand for giant companies like Tysons, animal and environmental welfare groups ought to direct their efforts at creating ways of exerting more pressure on legislators to tighten the noose on companies that operate in contradiction to set regulations on consumer health, environment and animal welfare. Wrong doings of factory farming In their discussion of John Robbins’s (1987) book, Diet for a New America, Loseke & Best (2013), note that vast physical space is needed for factory farming. To create the necessary acreage for growing the grains needed to feed these animals, factory farms conduct massive deforestation. Continued deforestation will affect rural communities, as soil erosion is likely to be more pronounced thus affecting the farming systems of the small-scale farmer. The hydrological cycle may also be affected since fewer trees translate to reduced water vapor in the atmosphere. Air, water and land pollution in neighboring communities is a common problem noted because of waste runoff from factory farms (Grace Foundation, 2014). This poses an immense risk to the general health of the inhabitants and quality of life. In 2003, Tyson foods plead guilty to 20 felony violations of the federal clean water act hence paying $7.5 million in fines (Corporate Ethics and Governance, 2003). In the case, Tyson admitted to discharging untreated wastewater from one of its poultry processing plant into a nearby stream whose waters flow into the Lamine River. In what many interpreted as an epitome of factory farms’ utter disregard of environmental regulations, Tyson continued discharging the wastewater into the stream even after criminal search warrants had been served at the plant (Corporate Ethics and Governance, 2003). Tyson’s behavior only served to give credence to studies showing that people living near factory farms suffer from significantly greater mental and physical health challenges than those living farther away (Chapman,2010) Some factory farms are proponents of the liquid manure system. This system involves mixing the animals’ urine and solid waste with water. This mix is later used as manure for the growth of the grains needed to feed the animals. Some factory farms are known to hold this liquid manure in large open-air lagoons thus causing severe air pollution (Grace Foundation, 2014). In a 2005 lawsuit filed by the sierra club and three residents of western Kentucky, Tyson foods ended up settling an air pollution suit for $ 500,000. The company agreed to spend the amount to monitor air for traces of ammonia at its chicken farms in western Kentucky (The New York Times, 2005). The brutal existence of animals in factory farms is well documented. In an attempt to adapt them to the conditions in the factory farm, animals are subjected to mutilation (Grace Foundation, 2014). Cutting of the beaks of chickens and amputation of pigs’ tails is standard practice in most farms (Grace Foundation, 2014). Animal rights activists argue that in the factory farms, the animals while awaiting slaughter spend their lives in cages or tiny quarters thus enjoying little or no movement. Exposure to sunlight is minimal. In some instances, they are given hormones to accelerate growth (Chapman, 2010). The pile up of waste in the animal sheds is another point of concern for animal rights activists. These pile-ups create ammonia and dust. Apart from acting as an irritant, Ammonia has been known to burn animals’ skin, eyes and throats (ASPCA, 2014). In an effort to deal with the unhygienic conditions found in the factory farms, large doses of antibiotics are given to the animals. However, bacteria show a tendency to adapt and evolve; such abuse of antibiotics poses the risk of the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria strains that may spread to people consuming meat from the farms (ASPCA, 2014). Factory farms in an effort to maintain low production costs are known to hire immigrant labor from Mexico and Latin America. Language barriers and unfamiliarity with U.S labor laws lead to most of these workers having to withstand poor labor conditions such as low pay and absence of health care (Grace Foundation, 2014). In 2006, Tyson Foods- long accused of hiring illegal immigrant labor- announced temporarily closure of nine of its red meat plants because of planned nationwide boycotts and marches by immigrant laborers (CNN Money, 2006). They stated that they would be suspending operations on the day of the protests due to an expected lack of laborers at the nine plants. Wrong doings of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) There are no concrete, long-term studies on the effects of genetically modified foods (GMO foods) on human beings, to be able to detect possible side effects on humans. Some researchers argue that GMO products ought to be appropriately labeled so that those who have reason to believe that they may be of harm to them can be in a position to choose not to consume (Pinstrup-Andersen & Watson, 2011). Presently, the U.S Food and Drug Administration requires no distinction between GMO and non- GMO foods in the market. Proponents of continued presence of GMO products in the food industry argue that GMO crops have been instrumental in increasing food production worldwide. This has had the overall effect of reducing hunger and the deaths recorded due to malnutrition (Pinstrup-Andersen & Watson, 2011). However, it is necessary to note that research conducted by some scientists paints a remarkably stark image of GMO foods. During research, Arpad Pusztai- an expert on plant genetics modification- noted that rats fed with GMO potatoes had smaller livers, hearts, testicles and brains (Lendman, 2008). The structural composition of their white blood cells was also noticeably different from that of rats that had been fed on non-GMO potatoes. This had the effect of weakening their immune system thus making them more vulnerable to disease (Lendman, 2008). Kantor (2013) argues that modification of genes often mixes or adds proteins that were not part of the original plant- this may have the effect of introducing an allergic reaction to the human anatomy. Further, some GMO foods have antibiotic features added into their composition in an attempt to promote resistance to viruses, humans consuming these foods will also have persistence of these antibiotic features in their bodies hence interfering with the effectiveness of actual antibiotic medications (Kantor, 2013). Conclusion Overall, animal rights activists have continuously advocated for people to adopt meat- free diets in an attempt at creating less demand for products from factory farms. So far, this method does not seem to be yielding tangible results. Huge corporations like Tysons are still making billions in profits. To make matters worse, meat is a crucial component of meals in most American households. Convincing people to abandon eating habits developed since they were children is a daunting task. Educating people on the benefits of buying from small-scale farmers where possible will be a valid point to start. People should be informed that by buying local fruits and vegetables, they would be supporting the local economy (Grace Foundation, 2014). Putting pressure on legislators so that stringent regulations on the treatment of animals and protection can be enacted will yield better results. The fear of negative publicity generated because of failure to comply with these stringent regulations may force factory farms to conduct their operations in a responsible manner. Buyers of factory farm products also need to demand better conditions in the farms. In 2002, the MacDonald’s corporation announced a ban on the purchase of eggs from producers whose hen’s had a roaming space of less than 72 square inches (Chapman, 2010). Anti GMO, activists have expressed concern on the reluctance of government to pass legislation necessitating appropriate labeling of GMO foods. The American association for the advancement of science (2012) argues that some major organization have noted no difference between GMO and non-GMO foods. The debate involving anti GMO activists, biotechnology firms and the government will drag on until a conclusive report based on long-term studies on whether GMO foods have any effects on the human body emerges. References American Association for the Advancement of Science. (2012). AAAS board of directors: legally mandating GM food labels could “mislead and falsely alarm consumers. Retrieved from http://www.aaas.org/news/aaas-board-directors-legally-mandating-gm-food-labels-could-%E2%80%9Cmislead-and-falsely-alarm. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. (n.d). Farm Animal Cruelty. Retrieved from http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/farm-animal-cruelty/what-factory-farm. Chapman, R. (Ed.). (2010). Factory Farms. Cultural wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints, and Voices, (pp. 168-169). New York, N.Y: M.E Sharpe. CNN Money. (2006). Tyson to Shutter Nine Plants Over Immigration Protest. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/28/news/companies/companies_boycott/index.htm. Corporate Ethics and Governance. (2003). Tyson Pleads Guilty in Pollution Case, Will Pay $7.5 million in Fines. Retrieved from http://www.icego.org/details/tyson_pleads_guilty_in_pollution_case,_will_pay_$7.5_million_in_fines.html. Grace Communications Foundation. (2014). Industrial Livestock Production. Retrieved from http://www.sustainabletable.org/859/industrial-livestock-production. Kantor, K. (2013). GMO’s- Pros and Cons. Retrieved from http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-957532. Lendman, S .(2008). Potential Health Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/potential-health-hazards-of-genetically-engineered-foods/8148. Pinstrup-Andersen, P. & Watson D.D. (2011). Food Policy for Developing Countries: The Role of Government in Global, National, and Local Food Systems (pp. 332). Ithaca, N.Y: Cornell UP. The New York Times. (2005). Company News; Tyson Foods Settles Air Pollution for $500,000. Retrieved from http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02EFDE143BF93BA15752C0A9639C8B63. Read More