07/04/2020 - Environment

KEY POINTS

·         The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is an opportunity for us to analyse our food system, ideate and make changes for a healthier and more sustainable future.

·         Animal agriculture is moving away from backyard operations to larger industrial facilities which aim to produce more meat with fewer resources.

·         According to the World Health Organization, the large volume of antibiotics given to farm animals contributed to the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria particularly in settings of intensive animal production.

·         A majority of Indian households buy meat from local meat shops which, much like the wet markets, follow no regulations in the way the animals are kept or slaughtered. Further, while welfare standards of animals are often neglected, one thing is clear: immunocompromised animals are the most likely to pass on an infection.

·         It is thus imperative that India understand the risk of zoonosis and antibiotic resistance in terms of following FSSAI regulations and adhering to welfare standards in animal husbandry.

·         India has a high rate of malnutrition among children under the age of five and is trying to combat this by encouraging meat production.

·         With a paucity of space, this can only be done by giving a boost to industrial agriculture. It must explore the potential behind plant and cultivated meats. Plant-based meats are made from plants and are cholesterol- and antibiotic-free, but taste and feel like meat. Cultivated meat is produced by taking a small sample of animal cells and replicating them outside of the animal; the resulting product is real meat, but without the antibiotics, E. coli, salmonella, or animal waste.

·         These foods represent an enormous opportunity to solve the problems of rampant malnutrition, low farmer incomes, antibiotic dependency, and inhumane factory farming of animals.

Please review.

Though there was no particular evidence,it is widely believed that the source of the Covid-19 is from wet market in Wuhan illustrates the possibility of Covid-19 being a zoonotic disease.Zoonotic disease means that the disease causing organism spread from animals to humans.Like Covid-19,SARS too was believed to have spread from civet cats to human beings in 2002.

Within in the welfare of the animals lies the welfare of the people :

Lack of concern for animal welfare :  

Currently,livestock is one of the fastest growing agricultural sub-sectors in developing countries like India.Its share of agricultural GDP is 33% and is quickly increasing.Animal agriculture is moving away from backyard operations to large industrial facilities which aim to maximize production,while minimizing costs.This is referred to as Intensive animal farming.The discovery of antibiotics  and vaccines facilitated raising livestock in larger number by reducing disease.There are concerns regarding the sustainability of intensive animal farming.There are also debates over the benefits and risks of intensive animal farming.

Antibiotic Resistance and health risk :

According to the World Health Organization,the large volume of antibiotics given to farm animals contributed to the development of anti-microbial resistant bacteria.Though the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) lays down standards and regulations in the way the animals are to kept and slaughtered,a majority of standalone meat vendors do not follow the set standards.The immuno-compromised animals are mostly likely to pass an infection in the lack of proper safety standards. 

Way forward :

Given the concerns associated with the zoonotic diseases,one need to rethink about restructuring our food system and need to explore the alternative methods for obtaining protein like Plant-based meats and Cultivated meat.

"I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime"- a quote by Swiss-American Psychiatrist is apt in this scenario.