Weekend Brunch Ideas - The Vegetarian Resource Group

Table 2 — Major Findings of the UnitedNations Food and Agriculture (FAO) Report• The livestock sector produces moregreenhouse gases (18 percent), asmeasured in carbon dioxide equivalents,than all cars, trucks, and SUVscombined.• The livestock sector is one of the topcontributors to water pollution and landdegradation.• The livestock sector uses• 30 percent of the earth's entire landsurface for grazing.• 70 percent of the earth's agriculturalland to produce feed.• 8 percent of freshwater.• 37 percent of all pesticides usedin the United States.• 50 percent of all antibiotics usedin the United States.• The livestock sector produces:• 65 percent of human-inducednitrous oxide, a greenhouse gasthat is almost 300 times morepowerful than carbon dioxidein heating up the globe.• 37 percent of methane, a greenhousegas that is 23 times morepowerful than carbon dioxidein heating up the globe.• 68 percent of human-inducedammonia, contributing significantlyto acid rain.• The livestock sector causes• deforestation in Latin America,responsible for 70 percent of forestscleared for grazing in the Amazon.• 20-70 percent of pasture degradation,resulting in overgrazing, soilloss, soil compaction, and desertification(i.e., when pasture or agriculturalland becomes infertile desert).• 55 percent of soil erosion in theUnited States (global figuresunavailable).Table 3 — Water Use and Depletion Facts:United States and World Comparisons• Americans use 300-400 L of water/person/day.• Eighty-three other countries reportan average below 100 L of water/person/day.• In terms of all freshwater usage inthe United States, including that forirrigation of feedcrops for livestockand other crops, 5,700 L of water isused per person per day.• Worldwide, the average water usage(including that for irrigation of foodeaten), is 1,970 L of water/person/day.• Approximately 40 percent of U.S.freshwater is unfit for recreation oras drinking water because of waterpollution. (A global figure for waterpollution is unavailable.)VEGETARIAN JOURNAL Issue One 2009 27