Agricultural GHG Emissions
What share of total U.S. GHG emissions comes from agriculture? There are 3 possible answers according to EPA data: 9.6% – This is for direct on-the-farm (and factory farm) emissions and does not include on-the-farm fossil fuel and electric use.[1] 10.5% – This is for direct on-the-farm emissions plus on-the-farm fossil fuel and electric use.[2] […]
Nutrient Pollution of Waterways
What is nutrient pollution? Put simply, nutrient pollution is “too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the air and water.”[1] Nutrient pollution negatively impacts water quality, air quality, greenhouse gas balances, ecosystems and biodiversity, and soil quality.[2] Since water pollution is the primary impact, nutrient pollution is sometimes specifically defined as “excess amounts of nitrogen and […]
U.S. Share of GHG Emissions
How does climate change differ from other negative externalities of animal ag? There are two fundamental differences: Climate change impacts are global. Other negative externalities of animal ag are either mostly or exclusively regional or national. One ton of CO2 emissions from the U.S. is evenly mixed throughout the earth’s atmosphere in about a year.[1,2] […]
Animal Ag Drivers of Zoonoses
What are the different routes by which animal ag contributes to zoonotic diseases? Animal ag heightens zoonotic disease risk through both direct and indirect routes. Direct exposure is at the factory farm level where the farmed animals are the original hosts, amplifiers, or transmitters of pathogens. Transmission of pathogens to humans can be via direct […]
Water Pollution and Animal Ag Overview
What is animal ag’s role in water pollution? Industrialized animal agriculture is the primary driver of the pollution of U.S. waterways.[1] The key points, as detailed in the following pages: Nutrient pollution (excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the environment) is the primary cause of pollution in U.S. waterways. Nutrient pollution causes eutrophication which leads to biological […]
Zoonoses and Animal Ag
What is a zoonosis? A zoonosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted from vertebrate non-human animals (wild or domesticated) to humans. A zoonotic pathogen can be bacterial, viral, or parasitic, and can be transmitted by direct contact with an animal, through contamination of food, water, soil, or air, or indirectly via non-vertebrate “vectors” such […]
GHG Emissions Takeaways
GHG Emissions Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions section U.S. Share of Total GHG Emissions The U.S. is responsible for the largest share of historical GHG emissions; through 2021, the U.S. generated ~17% of historical global emissions. The U.S. share of global annual emissions in 2024 was ~11%, […]
Water Pollution Takeaways
Water Pollution Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Water Pollution section Key Takeaway Industrial animal agriculture is the primary driver of water pollution in the U.S. This reality is hidden from the public due to agricultural exceptionalism, federal agency obfuscation, and a culture that supports high levels of meat consumption. The […]
Animal Ag Antibiotic Usage
Broadly estimated, what share of “medically important” antibiotics is used by animal ag? Until recently, the most credible estimate was that almost two-thirds of all antibiotics deemed medically important were used by the U.S. factory farming system.[1-3] This is now an underestimate, given the reported 16% increase in animal usage from 2023 to 2024.[4] Human […]
Antibiotic Resistance & Animal Ag
What is antibiotic resistance? Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria undergo changes that enable them to resist antibiotics that previously were effective treatments. This makes certain bacterial infections difficult to overcome.[1] Antibiotic resistance is an inevitable and natural process due to the huge numbers of microbes and their inherent ability to adapt. But the process can […]