Published 14/01/2014

A new report published by Friends of the Earth and Heinrich Böll Stiftung, presents the environmental and societal impact of global meat and dairy production. It examines the consequences of industrialisation and suggests a radical rethink of the system to avoid further damage to the planet and its inhabitants.

Many of the chapters found within the report re-iterate Compassion's position. In particular, it strengthens and builds on the messages found within our Raw campaign: to expose the truth about factory farming and build a movement for better food and farming.

One of the chapters examines the harmful consequences of factory farming on marine life. Over-fertilization of crops with the waste of factory farmed animals can lead to pollution of water with nitrogen and phosphorous.

These chemicals stimulate growth of algae, aquatic plants and bacteria, which make the water deficient in oxygen. As a result, shrimp and other fish cannot survive. It is estimated that 250,000km² of coastal waters worldwide suffer from severe seasonal oxygen deficiency.

In his new book, Farmageddon, Philip Lymbery, Compassion's CEO, visits some of the areas affected by over-fertilization. It is just one of the negative impacts of global industrial farming that makes factory farming one of the most pressing issues of our time.

Find out more in Farmageddon, published January 30th 2014. Pre-order your copy here.

Read the full Meat Atlas report here.