June 14: CAFOs and Intersectionality

 To CAFO Or Not To CAFO That Is The Question

Abstract: CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) have been of latest concern where in STEM in Society we discussed what were the benefits and problems of CAFOs in their rise in society today.

Via: Thoughtco.com

Today in were essentially debating as to whether or not CAFOs were too essential for society to get rid of or whether they should be replaced as they are too heinous and inhumane. My team, comprised of Kim Huang, Lane Comstock, Anandi Durgam, Sanvi Guruprasad, and I, were given the task for finding the benefits of CAFOs are arguing why they are needed in this society and time. In this discussion we came up with 4 main points as to why they are essential for us. 


Reasons

  • Firstly there is not enough land for all farming to be open farm as in America already due to increasing population, more homes and corporations are being built diminishing the land available to open farm as well as depleting the nutrients located within the ground that would be beneficial for animals to feed on already setting the stage for lack of nutrients in meat if all farming and animal operations became open farm. Which leads us to our next point, Acheta Powder. 
  • Acheta powder is essentially powder made from crickets that is already being put into food for an additional boost in nutrients which the government does not tell us about. We see in the picture below it is already being incorporated into many things such as bread, past, brownies, soup, and more. With the lack of nutrients that would come with open farming we would have to be more reliant on this powder. 
Via: Thailandunique.com
  • Another point is the cost for organic, open farm meat. It is often very costly and out of the range for people to buy on the daily/weekly basis. If we move all meat processing operations to such practices, then we can imagine how difficult it could be many people to be able to eat meat as they would not be able to afford it and thus having CAFOs would avoid this situation making it essential that they keep running.
  • And lastly, we will eventually kill the animals in these farms both concentrated and open-field, so, it's essentially an act of betrayal to treat them nicely in the open-field operation as we give them a false sense of security and protection only to slaughter them eventually. 

Resolution/Final Thought

Finally, I would like to say that although we did argue for CAFOs I personally do not agree with them, but this experiment and discussion/debate did give me insight on how not everything is good or bad and how there is a certain need for them, despite the dangers and inhumanity it poses. Overall, I was able to practice being objective and looking from different perspectives with this lesson and it helped me to gain a bigger perspective on the operation.





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