1. Industrial Farming
By: Matai Blacklock

2. THE MEATRIX 1
THE MEATRIX 2
THE MEATRIX 2.5

3. History of Industrial Farming
To feed the rising population, industrial farmers sought out ways to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.
Industrial farmers took advantage of the technological and scientific advancements that occurred after the Industrial Revolution and WWII.
Mass Production
Synthetic Fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus)
Advancements in animal medicines
Synthetic Chemicals: pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.
To feed the rising population, industrial farmers sought out ways to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.
Industrial farmers took advantage of the technological and scientific advancements that occurred after the Industrial Revolution and WWII.
Mass Production
Synthetic Fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus)
Advancements in animal medicines
Synthetic Chemicals: pesticides, herbicides and insecticides.

4. Currently….
Large agribusinesses make up our industrial farming system.
Four Companies currently control 90% of all beef processing plants(2)
Four companies control 70% of the pork processing plants
Four companies control 60% of poultry processing plants(2)
Industrial farming accounts for 99% of all farmed animals raised and slaughtered in the US.(1)
Industrial farms practice vertical integration and contract growing to externalize cost.
Large agribusinesses make up our industrial farming system.
Four Companies currently control 90% of all beef processing plants(2)
Four companies control 70% of the pork processing plants
Four companies control 60% of poultry processing plants(2)
Industrial farming accounts for 99% of all farmed animals raised and slaughtered in the US.(1)
Industrial farms practice vertical integration and contract growing to externalize cost.

5. Vertical Integration
Large agribusinesses are now using a vertical integration business model.
The corporation that owns the factory farm also owns the feed company, slaughterhouse, and facilities for final stages of production, such as packaging and distribution.
They aim control every part of the production and distribution process.
Large agribusinesses are now using a vertical integration business model.
The corporation that owns the factory farm also owns the feed company, slaughterhouse, and facilities for final stages of production, such as packaging and distribution.
They aim control every part of the production and distribution process.

6. Video Clip Contract Growing
Individual family farms enter into contracts with agribusinesses.
The contracts give the agribusiness control over how the farm operates.
90 percent of all poultry in the U.S. is now raised by growers who don’t own the birds or negotiate basic terms like price per pound(1)
Small farms are forced to enter into these contracts because they cannot keep up with industrial farms.
Industrial farms sometimes claim their products are from “family farms” because of this.
Individual family farms enter into contracts with agribusinesses.
The contracts give the agribusiness control over how the farm operates.
90 percent of all poultry in the U.S. is now raised by growers who don’t own the birds or negotiate basic terms like price per pound(1)
Small farms are forced to enter into these contracts because they cannot keep up with industrial farms.
Industrial farms sometimes claim their products are from “family farms” because of this.
Food Inc. Clip
Video Clip

7. Externalized Cost
By practicing vertical integration and contract farming agribusinesses are able to externalize costs.
The consumer doesn’t have to pay a high price for eat at the supermarket because the cost is shared with:
small family farms that are taken advantage of
communities that are forced to deal with pollution from farms
Leads to health and environmental problems
Agribusinesses disregard any bad treatment of animals or pollution that they cause because it saves them money.
By practicing vertical integration and contract farming agribusinesses are able to externalize costs.
The consumer doesn’t have to pay a high price for eat at the supermarket because the cost is shared with:
small family farms that are taken advantage of
communities that are forced to deal with pollution from farms
Leads to health and environmental problems
Agribusinesses disregard any bad treatment of animals or pollution that they cause because it saves them money.

8. What makes up the Industrial Farming System?
A factory farm is an industrial facility for raising large numbers of livestock in as little space as possible.
Industrial farms also use certain techniques to mass produce crops.
Mainly corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, cotton. Rice and grain (sorghum).
The goal the industrial farming system is to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.
A factory farm is an industrial facility for raising large numbers of livestock in as little space as possible.
Industrial farms also use certain techniques to mass produce crops.
Mainly corn, soybeans, hay, wheat, cotton. Rice and grain (sorghum).
The goal the industrial farming system is to produce the highest output of food at the lowest cost.

9. Crop Growing Industrial Farms
Their use of synthetic pesticides herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers contributes to ground & air pollution.
The lack of biodiversity makes large fields of crops vulnerable and hurts the ecosystem
Crops are
genetically modified.
Crop’s are grown for animal feed.
Do you guys know what synthetic means?
Biodiversity = lack of plant diversity
Genetically modified – video
Highlights:
90% of genetically modified crops are owned by one company (Monsanto)
Genetically engineered crops do not produce higher yields but farmers must buy more expensive seeds each year.
- Genetically engineered crops do not produce seeds that can be reused the next year like normal crops.
As pests and weeds develop stronger resistance to pesticides and insecticides, farmers must spray their crops with stronger chemicals.
Video Clip

10. Livestock Factory Farms
Inhumanely treat animals.
Are a large source of pollution.
Results in environmental and health effects.
Are a burden on local ecosystems.
pollution, excessive water use, health effects
Unsafe and unfair working conditions.
Inhumanely treat animals.
Are a large source of pollution.
Results in environmental and health effects.
Are a burden on local ecosystems.
pollution, excessive water use, health effects
Unsafe and unfair working conditions.

11. Animal Welfare In a factory where the goals are to:
lower costs
increase production rates
& raise profits
The welfare of the animals is never taken into consideration.
In a factory where the goals are to:
lower costs
increase production rates
& raise profits
The welfare of the animals is never taken into consideration.

12. Live in extremely unsanitary enclosures.
Animals are forced to live in very small areas.
Pigs spending their entire lives on slatted concrete floors, which causes skeletal deformities
Pregnant pigs (sows) kept in crates, unable to even turn around for months on end
Chickens spending their lives indoors in stacked cages without even enough room to spread their wings.
Cattle fed hormones in order to speed their growth, confined to massive penned feedlots standing in mud and their own feces, unable to graze and fed grain, which their stomachs are not designed to digest.
Often mutilated to prevent damage during fights.
Live in extremely unsanitary enclosures.
disease prone  routine antibiotic use

13. Antibiotic Resistance
Overcrowding of livestock confinements.
Widespread diseases
Unsanitary living space & open wounds
Constant dosages of antibiotics
Antibiotic resistant bacteria  public health crisis
Overcrowding of livestock confinements.
Widespread diseases
Unsanitary living space & open wounds
Constant dosages of antibiotics
Antibiotic resistant bacteria  public health crisis

14. Industrial Farm Pollution
Sources of pollution:
Synthetic Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides & insecticides.
Heavy metal pollution
Heavy metals within animal feed leek into the land surrounding factory farms from manure pools
Manure
Sources of pollution:
Synthetic Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides & insecticides.
Heavy metal pollution
Heavy metals within animal feed leek into the land surrounding factory farms from manure pools
Manure

15. factory farm owners allow waste to collect in open-air “lagoons,” where it is mixed with water and then sprayed onto surrounding fields, polluting ground water, such as wells and aquifers, and surface water, such as streams, ponds and lakes.
Methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are all greenhouse gasses

16. Manure
1.5billion pounds of manure produced a year
Disposal pools often leak poisoning local water sources
As many as half of factory farms waste pools leak enough to contaminate nearby groundwater
To help empty the pools manure is sprayed directly into the air.
Decomposing manure releases:
methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and other chemicals.
Industrial livestock production is responsible for 18% of the global warming effect, more than the entire transportation sector!!
1.5billion pounds of manure produced a year
disposal pools often leak poisoning local water sources
As many as half of factory farms waste pools leak enough to contaminate nearby groundwater
To help empty the pools manure is sprayed directly into the air.
Decomposing manure releases:
methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide and other chemicals.
Industrial livestock production is responsible for 18% of the global warming effect, more than the entire transportation sector!!

17. Unsafe and Unfair Working Conditions
Most workers are paid minimum wage and receive no benefits.
Workers are exposed to multiple toxins in the air and antibiotic resistant bacteria.
A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 60 percent of poultry companies surveyed were violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
Most workers are paid minimum wage and receive no benefits.
Workers are exposed to multiple toxins in the air and antibiotic resistant bacteria.
A U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 60 percent of poultry companies surveyed were violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

18. Effects on Human Health
Farm workers can easily get diseases from factory animals and pass them on.
Do to unsanitary conditions in farms meat can often become contaminated.
U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 70% of all food borne illness in the nation can be traced to contaminated meat.
Toxins released into the air and water from manure pits and synthetic chemicals can cause negative health effects in humans.
Farm workers can easily get diseases from factory animals and pass them on.
Do to unsanitary conditions in farms meat can often become contaminated.
U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 70% of all food borne illness in the nation can be traced to contaminated meat.
Toxins released into the air and water from manure pits and synthetic chemicals can cause negative health effects in humans.

19. Effects on Human Health
Symptoms:
Headaches
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sore throats
Hoarseness
Excessive coughing
Chest tightness
Nausea
Confusion
Mood alterations
scratchy throat
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Fainting
Burning Eyes
Depression
Fatigue
Seizures
Comes
Respiratory Problems (Asthma)
Fever
Kidney Failure
Death

20. Industrial Farming’s Effect on the Environment
Pollution from farms ruins local water and air quality for both humans and local wildlife.
Greenhouse gasses released from decomposing manure contribute to global climate change.
The lack of biodiversity destroys local ecosystems.
Industrial farms rely upon large quantities of water. (millions of gallons a day)
Lowered water tables.
The Ogallala aquifer, the largest in the nation, has been estimated to dry up in 50 years due to unsustainable industrial farming practices.
Pollution from farms ruins local water and air quality for both humans and local wildlife.
Greenhouse gasses released from decomposing manure contribute to global climate change.
The lack of biodiversity destroys local ecosystems.
Industrial farms rely upon large quantities of water. (millions of gallons a day)
Lowered water tables.
The Ogallala aquifer, the largest in the nation, has been estimated to dry up in 50 years due to unsustainable industrial farming practices.

21. What can you do to help? Support Local Farms
By purchasing from local farmers you can help support them and not support big factory farms.
Educate yourself and others
Try to buy meat and produce that hasn’t been raised in an industrial farm.
Support Local Farms
By purchasing from local farmers you can help support them and not support big factory farms.
Educate yourself and others
Try to buy meat and produce that hasn’t been raised in an industrial farm.

22. Discussion Questions:
What environmental problems do you see with the industrial farming system? 
What health problems are associated with the industrial farming system?
 How does the industrial farming system treat animals? Give 2 specific examples.
 Should we value the cheapness of industrially farmed produce and meat over the quality of our environment and health?

23. Don’t speak while it’s another teams turn to answer.
Rules:
Don’t speak while it’s another teams turn to answer.
Think hard.
Have Fun!!