BALANCING LIVESTOCK, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND HUMAN NEEDS

LXEIND-L

This file includes two summaries.
1. A summary of the discussion of the Industrial System Case Studies
2. A summary of the discussion of the Industrial Systems chapter from the multi-donor study.

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SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS OF INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CASE STUDIES
By: Victor Mares, Moderator

The first period of our group discussions centered around case studies, which provided information about a set of key questions. A total of 7 industrial systems' case studies were sent by participants.

The case studies came from the following countries:

Canada: 1; Dominican Republic: 1; Greece: 1; The Netherlands: 1
Pakistan: 1; USA: 1; World: 1
Discussions in this group were rather less active than in the grazing and mix systems rooms. However, some important issues arose. Thus, Aslam Pervez Umrani pointed out the big difference between developed and developing countries as developing countries give less importance to environmental issues than developed countries. He attributed it to differences in the rate of population growth. He also questioned the rationale of monogastric livestock production in a country like Pakistan which faces severe shortages of cereals for human consumption. He also showed his concern about the problem of water pollution caused by existing practices and the risks associated to unrestricted use of antibiotics as feed additives.

Thomas Sauer expressed his optimism concerning the future of industrial systems in a sustained environment-human well-being balanced situation. However, he thinks that most environmental effects of industrial systems are not ready visible. Compounding the problem, there are irresponsible operators and lack of concern from citizens who may view any effect as only the price of doing business. He declared that as a full-time researcher, he is coming to the uncomfortable conclusion that viable (technological) solutions to most environmental problems already exist. He argued that what is limiting is society's commitment to take the necessary steps and that we need to educate citizens with the will to incur the necessary costs of protecting natural resources.

David Ligda asked whether consumers would accept the internalized costs of any positive environmental positive effects achieved with improved technology. For Thomas Sauer the challenge is, precisely, how to convince citizens that animal production needs to be structured and regulated so as to protect natural resources while some of the associated costs will increase food prices. Michel Bigras-Poulin suggested than considering the environment as strictly the physical environment underestimates that the environment is both human and physical. He considers than the inclusion of human aspects in the evaluation of a pollution problem is very important if an adequate and equilibrated long term solution is to be found.

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SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CHAPTER
By: Victor Mares, Moderator

The second period of group discussions in this room focused on the industrial systems chapter of the multi-donor study on Livestock and the Environment. This discussion period considered two central aspects of the chapter: the characterization of hot spots and driving forces on the one hand and the recommendations on the other. This report summarizes the comments and contributions on both the diagnostic and the recommendations aspects of the chapter.

Rosario Perez Espejo posted her comments about industrial systems in Mexico. She pointed out that quality and nutritional value of industrialized pork products are low due to high fat and nitrate content. This pork industry strongly contributes to water pollution. Rosario commented on the importance of pig rearing in small rural households and the presence of diseases such as cisticercosis and taeniosis which affect humans. Rosario's contribution called our attention to the important aspects of food quality and sanitary condition as critical components of the human environment.

Burton Smith commented that education plays a role in solving environmental problems. However, he asked how to educate people when they don't want education, particularly when it attempts to counter people's culture.

Thomas Sauer commented that there has been a lot of discussion on policy and argued that very few scientists have any input on policy decisions. He thinks that scientist should be consulted by decision makers but they are not. He suggests that scientists need to be organized and actively pursue and educate policy makers.

Prompted by Thomas Sauer comments, Allan Kean argued that trying to drive good nutrient management and resource protection via convincing the majority of citizens that industrial livestock systems must be regulated should not be our primary focus. He considers instead that our focus should be on how to provide definitive resource protection requirements that are understandable, feasible and timely, as operators are more interested in knowing exactly what will satisfy regulators than taking time to fight about being regulated.