On Modern Industrial Farming: A Stable Future Ahead?

Hector Cabrera

Prolegomenon
Perhaps one of the most fundamental questions about the human existence, is not one that
relates to the past, or of our origins, but is rather one that looks towards the future, or that
of what the world holds for the continuing survival of man. The enduring perseverance of
the human species is one that is rooted in several key events that radically changed our
place on Earth. From the invention of fire to the transition from rudimentary stone tools
to the fabrication of tools made of metal alloys [bronze, iron, steel], the human story is
indeed marred with events that have made us who we are. However, in reflecting on the
past, there is one event, that so greatly affected the course of human history, that its
impacts are still, not only discussed, but are closely studied to determine how they will
affect humanity in the coming years. This “event” is none other, then that of the
“invention,” or discovery of agriculture. The very word “agriculture” is one endowed by
the semantics of the English language, to be almost synonymous with the continuance of
humanity. After all, without food, or agriculture, what becomes of humanity? It was
agriculture which allowed nomadic communities of early humans to settle and form
civilizations. It was agriculture which allowed for the human population to grow. It was
agriculture which allowed for civilizations to flourish. And, it was agriculture which lit
the path on which humanity is on today. As years have gone by, the realms of science and
technology have furnished to the world advancements and discoveries which have
propelled humanity to new frontiers. Nearly every sector of daily life [and indeed the
notion of “daily-life”] have been changed by technology. From the Industrial Revolution
to the Space Race, our lives, and the world, would not be the same without technology.
Agriculture is no exemption. Advancements in agriculture have led to modern-day
practices that have completely revolutionized the industry. Modern advancements have
increased crop yields, livestock production, and with the incorporation of machinery and
automation, have industrialized the field of agriculture. Overall, this has led to a
multitude of what may be considered “positives1.” Yet, the question is begged, what are
the associated costs? And if there are costs, how “expensive” are they? In analyzing these
cost-related inquiries, we must also begin to ask, what can be done? In specific, what are
the pressing alternations that can be made to the existing farm system?
Costs of Modern Farming
This paper identifies three main costs of modern/industrialized farming.2
1. Climate Change – According to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, “NASA,” there are four gases which are primarily responsible for
climate change and global warming, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane gas,
and water vapor. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas in the

1
“Positives,” or benefits often cited are, lower costs, more food for a growing population, and lower rates
of hunger
2
When employed in the discussion of agriculture, the words “modern” or “industrialized” will be
synonymous and used interchangeably

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atmosphere, but through the industrialization of man, and the promulgation of

fossil fuels (burning of), the artificial release of CO2 has become one of the
biggest causes of climate change and global warming. Following CO2, methane
gas (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) are also essential to the process of global
warming. Both gases also hold the distinction of being directly tied to the modern
agricultural sector. Methane gas is especially a problem within the agricultural
subfield of livestock management. The digestion process of ruminant animals and
their waste (including waste management) are some of the biggest producers of
methane gas. (NASA). Nitrous oxide is a gas that is commonly formed due to the
practices of modern farming, which involve the heavy usage of fertilizers and
other soil cultivation practices. Overall, there is no denying that modern
agriculture plays a huge role in climate change. As time goes on, the devasting
costs of climate change will only continue to grow. Droughts and heatwaves will
become common, as well as other unpredictable weather patterns. Per one study, a
modern day “Dust-Bowl” (caused by the combination of climate-change related
events) would result in a 40% drop in corn and soybean production, as well as
other secondary side-effects not only in the U.S Corn Belt but across the world.
(Scharping, 2021)
[Filler text to space between sentences]
2. Ethics-Related Cost(s) – The entire ensemble of modern farming is a vast network
that seems to touch on most of the world’s sectors. As such, there are inevitably
many different ethical considerations and costs that must be examined in an
analysis of industrialized farming. One of the primary ethical costs associated
with modern farming is that of environmental racism and injustice. One state in
particular serve as the archetype for this, North Carolina. North Carolina is an
American agriculture powerhouse, home to more than 538 million chickens and
turkeys and 8.7 million hogs. The sheer number of livestock within the state are
especially concentrated in lower-income communities and counites, especially
those populated by minority groups (Native Americans, Blacks, Latinos.)
(Graddy, Simon, Rundquist, 2020). The close density between livestock and
humans in these counites leads to a plethora of health issues associated with
livestock management. Those living in these areas are more prone to respiratory
illnesses, living with contained air, soil, and water, and dying from serious disease
The air is described as putrid, the poultry sector, being unregulated as opposed to
swine production, produces billions of pounds of waste, some of which goes on to
contaminate waterways (discussed later). (Newsome, 2022). An additional ethical
concern/cost becomes the treatment of animals in the industrialized system of
farming. To increase production, modern farming often limits the space allowed
per animal, and results in most animals living in extremely crowded living spaces,
often in closed environments. In an analysis of modern farming, the ethical cost of
suffering animals (many of whom are intelligent/sentient) must be considered.
3. [Filler text to space between sentences]
4. “Force majeure” Cost(s) – In analyzing the varied costs of the modern farming
system, there are costs which are not only hard to categorize, but also hard to
predict (e.g., they are not regularly recurrent issues, but when they do occur, they

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are conspicuous.) Using this framework, we identified two noteworthy costs to

include
a. Biotechnology – As the world advances and pushes the limits of science,
the field of agriculture is one of the primary beneficiaries of new
technologies. A new subfield of agriculture, bio agriculture (or agriculture
with a biotechnological concentration) is often employed by farmers,
whether it is in the form of pesticides that specifically target certain crops
or pests, to the genetic modification of plant/biological material. The
employment of pesticides or insecticides is often seen as a necessity for
farmers who wish to increase their yield and limit their loses due to weeds
and pests. However, the ubiquitous use of pesticides has led to a new cost
springing forth, that of pesticide-resistant crops, or “superweeds.” Weeds,
like Palmer amaranth, have grown to show-resistance to pesticides, even
powerful chemical concoctions like dicamba. They can threaten yields and
the livelihoods of farmers. (Brown, 2021)
b. Waste Management – As noted a short-while back, states like North
Carolina are homes to millions of pigs, turkeys, and chickens. These tens
of millions of livestock translate to billions of pounds of liquid (swine)
and dry (poultry) waste. This waste, often stored in unlined open hole
“lagoons” often seeks into the ground, contaminating the soil. In addition,
due to the state’s susceptibility for hurricanes, these waste lagoons can
spread toxic animal waste throughout, as seen during Hurricane Florence
and Maria. (Newsome, 2022)
Recommendations For Alternations3
1. Adoption of Uniform Federal Regulation of the Livestock Industry to
Facilitate Waste Management and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Effect
One of the biggest threats that taunts humanity is that of climate change. With the ability
to up rule the very fabric of our contemporary society, the issue and effects of climate
change are not ones that are restricted to the national level, they are global. As such, any
alternation that holds the main goal of reigning in global warming (and its side-effect,
climate change) must reign in as the most important. One of the biggest producers of
atmosphere polluting gases, besides fossil-fuel burning, lies in the agriculture sector, in
particular, that of livestock management. Livestock, often through their digestive system
(bovine) produce copious amounts of CH4 (methane gas) one of the primary pollutants. In
fact, CH4 is more pollutant than the gas CO2, the pollutant typically released from the
burning of fossil fuels. (NASA). Likewise, as we have seen, being how sparce state
regulations are on livestock management (even when enacted, there is weak enforcement)
(Newsome, 2022) it is imperative that the Federal government of the United States step in
and take over where the States lack. We content that, owing to the fact that the raising of
livestock inevitably becomes an inter-state affair (though the sale of livestock products),
the federal government has full authority to enact regulations regarding livestock

3
Listed in order of importance/urgency

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management and waste management. A uniform set of rules laid out by the federal
government would ideally include some aspects of the following:
1. Set a soft cap on the number of bovine, swine, and poultry farms allowed on a
per-square meter area.4
2. Establish procedures for the better management of liquid and dry animal waste,
including penalties for the violations thereof.
3. Direct the EPA or other responsible agencies to monitor release of methane gas
and maintain accurate list of farms/ number of livestock
4. Direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the US
Department of Agriculture to commence a review of farming practices near
predominantly low-income communites
With these regulations, it is possible to see a reduction in the production of methane gas
by livestock industry while still maintaining sustainable levels of productions. In a sense,
it is not the goal of the regulations to disrupt or abdicate the meat industry, but rather to
hold it responsible and ensure that proper environmental regulations and concerns are
adhered to. In addition, by allowing regulatory agencies the power to monitor farming
practices near low-income communities, it allows for those currently living in those areas
the possibility of living a life unaffected by livestock raising. Without these regulations, it
is quite possible that the livestock sector will grow to become and even bigger producer
of polluting gases and lead to more instances of environmental racism and
disproportionally affect lower-income residents.
2. Reduce the Usage and Dependency on Insecticides and/or Pesticides
One of the hallmarks of modern farming is the ubiquitous usage of pesticides and
insecticides for crop management. Through these two farmers are able to reduce the
apparition of “weeds” and other non-desirable crops. Yet, this usage is at best, a double-
edged sword. For the usage of insecticides, there exists two main problems. First is the
release of N2O gas, or nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is flagged by NASA as being a
dangerous pollutant which is one of the responsible parties for global warming. As
discussed above, the very critical nature of climate change and global warming prompts
urgent actions to reduce the causes of the phenomenon. This thus is the warrant for its
second-place spot on the list of alternations. By reducing the usage of pesticides and
insecticides, a negative linear relationship can be made. Thus, it is the recommendation of
this paper that the reduction of insecticides/pesticides be done with haste, so as to limit
the future damaging of the environment. In addition, however, the environment (though
important) is not the only reason so as to recommend the curbing of pesticide usage.
Another reason comes with the apparition of pesticide-resistant invasive weeds. Much
like in the medical sector, and their instances of antibiotic resistant bacteria, the
agricultural sector also has a similar problem. Though the heavy and indiscriminatory
usage of pesticides and insecticides that is common in modern crop management (often
though spraying entire fields) many weeds have begun to develop extraordinary
resistance to common pesticides. This creates a problem to crop management as it can

4
A soft cap is preferable to a hard cap so as to allow the Federal Government room to amend in case of
extraordinary circumstances (increase demand/population growth)

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lead to disastrous effects on crop yield. The issue is likewise of pressing urgency due to
the speed of which crops can develop immunity and resistance to the pesticides. For
example, returning to the aforementioned case of Palmer amaranth, scientists were able to
identify one strain of the plant that was resistant to the chemical dicamba. The
formulation of dicamba took agroscientists more than ten years. It took the amaranth only
five years to develop resistance. (Brown, 2021) To avoid future instances of these
pesticide-resistant weeds, it is critical that farmers begin to develop alternative ways to
manage crops and reduce weeds. It is likewise of upmost importance that farmers begin
to curb their usage of pesticides.
3. Rethink Current Livestock Practices Regarding the Treatment of Animals
and Their Care
When one invokes the thought of livestock management and raising, it is easy to imagine
an idyllic and pastoral setting where animals roam and graze. Yet, the reality is that of a
stark difference. Closed-air mega-corrals where animals neither see the light of day, nor
are they afforded the decency of living space. Animals in these conditions often suffer
from severe phycological distress which causes them undue harm. One of the tenants of
modern livestock management is the prioritization of production and output over that of
the conditions of animals. As a result, industrial farmers are incentivized to raise the
largest amounts of animals possible, which often comes at the sacrifice of living space for
the animals. Animals are complex and intelligent beings, even animals like fish are
known to be emotionally intelligent. (Nuwer, 2018). Not only are animals deprived from
living space, but most are also often artificially inseminated, suffer stress from
transportation, and are privy to a slew of other noxious behaviors. (McKenna, 2018). It is
important to break the “invisible distinction” that we have made between us and animals,
a distinction that is often employed to promote the continuance of these behaviors
towards livestock. By adapting and rethinking the current livestock practices it is the
hope of this paper that we can solve one of the biggest ethical concerns that come with
modern farming. Rethinking our stance on animals is the first step to creating solutions to
the livestock question and can one day lead to a solution that can balance out concerns for
animal welfare, as well as meeting the global need of meat production.5

5
Perhaps the most appropriate solution is an Occam’s razor type solution, lower meat consumption. But,
for the purpose of this paper, it did not seem like a feasible solution, but still, one that merits inclusion,
nonetheless.

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References
Brown, Claire H. “Attack of the Superweeds.” New York Times. August 18, 2021,
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/magazine/superweeds-monsanto.html
(accessed March 3, 2022)
Graddy, Sarah, Ellen Simon, Soren Rundquist. “Exposing Fields of Filth: Factory Farms
Disproportionately Threaten Black, Latino and Native American North
Carolinians.” Environmental Working Group. July 20, 2020,
https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2020-fields-of-filth/ (accessed March 13,
2022)
McKenna, Erin. Livestock: Food, Fiber, Friends, Athens, University of Georgia Press,
2018
NASA, “The Causes of Climate Change.” Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the
Planet. Accessed March 13, 2022, https://climate.nasa.gov/
Newsome, Melba. “North Carolina Poultry Frenzy: 500 Million Birds and ‘Zero
Transparency.” Mother Jones. February 17, 2022,
https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2022/02/north-carolina-poultry-
farms-hog-waste-regulations-environmental-problems/ (accessed March 13, 2022)
Nuwer, Rachel, “Fish Have Feelings, Too.” Nova. September 4, 2018.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/fish-have-feelings-too/ (accessed March
13, 2022)
Scharping, Nathaniel. “As the Climate Warms, Could the U.S. Face Another Dust
Bowl?” Yale Environment 360. May 13, 2021, https://e360.yale.edu/features/as-
the-climate-warms-could-the-u.s.-face-another-dust-bowl (accessed March 13,
2022)

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