2023-10-27 11:00:27
According to the results of a study carried out by experts from the Department of Food and Resource Economics at the University of Copenhagen, In pork production, animal health and welfare are more important than environmental issues. According to researchers, the pork industry generates concern in society for different reasons, possible toxic infectious diseases, the use of antibiotics in production, the pressure that production generates on nature and the environment, the lack of animal welfare, etc.
The study reveals that when consumers purchase pork, the Climate improvements are not what matters most to consumers, prioritize the health and well-being of the animal above environmental considerations. The results are somewhat surprising, since in recent years the public debate on food production and environmental sustainability has played a relevant role, but when it comes to reducing the climate footprint in the purchase of foods such as pork , its priority is low among consumers.
According to experts, global pork consumption is associated with several hundred million tons of CO2 equivalent per year; in the case of beef production, the volume of greenhouse gas emissions is much more. significant. We say this because it would have been interesting to include the same questions in the survey but with beef, to check if the perception is different, since when we have talked regarding How meat production affects the environmenthas generally been taken as a reference to the beef sector.
Let us remember that according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the livestock sector in general contributes significantly to total human greenhouse gas emissions, generating as many greenhouse gases as all world transportation. As additional information, we recommend you read this post in which we talk regarding the problems associated with industrial livestock farming and excessive meat consumption.
The conclusions have been obtained from a survey carried out among consumers in Denmark, Germany, Great Britain and China (regarding 1,500 per country), who were asked to prioritize among five issues, environmental footprint, food safety, use of antibiotics , animal welfare and protection of rainforests. It was also asked whether consumers would be willing to pay more for pork produced in an environmentally friendly manner or if, on the contrary, they prioritize other considerations and would equally be willing to pay more for compliance.
According to the results of the survey, when choosing between the different points exposed, the pork from animals with better animal welfare. The responses clearly show that environmental improvements in pig production are not a priority for consumers, it is more important for them that pigs enjoy a welfare status throughout their lives. Segmenting by country, opinion varies, for example, in Germany environmental consideration obtained the lowest score, while in Denmark, the United Kingdom and China, it was placed in second place.
If it is to choose between animal welfare and environment, 53% of Danish consumers opt for well-being, 25% consider both issues equally, and only 18% value reducing the climate footprint more. And the data is reproduced more or less the same in the rest of the countries, there is less connection with the reduction of the environmental footprint. Many consumers do not consider that they can make a real difference to the climate when they buy pork, preferring to carry out other actions that benefit the environment.
The researchers explain that the study shows that a climate label on pork packaging will do little good, since consumers have other priorities, in addition, environmentally friendly pig production might mean that animal welfare is compromised. And as we have already mentioned previously, most of the CO2 emissions from animal production are associated with the beef sector, which is why it is labeled with an environmental problem. In any case, and regardless of the type of meat, experts consider it necessary to reduce its consumption and increase that of plant foods; this reduction would bring benefits in the five issues mentioned.
You can learn more details regarding This studio through this article published in the scientific journal Livestock Science.
Photo 1 | Dane Brian
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