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A new study prepared by Greenchain Consulting for the South Island Prosperity Partnership calling for a new slaughterhouse in southern Vancouver Island is receiving a failing grade from animal advocates who say no one is asking for more meat.
The study proposes there is a need for a new poultry slaughterhouse for the South Island, as well as a meat distribution and processing food hub, among other initiatives. Justification for these proposals are that consultations with meat producers identified a lack of infrastructure to meet demand.
Jordan Reichert of the Animal Alliance of Canada is condemning the study for not taking into account the negative ethical, health, environmental, and social consequences of meat production, consumption, and transportation.
“This study is in the interest of the meat industry, not people, animals, or the planet. We are in the middle of a global pandemic caused by a zoonotic disease. All the research points to the need for a transition away from animal agriculture towards a plant-based food system. No one is saying we need to kill more animals.”
Furthermore, Reichert points out that the study only considered the position of meat consumers, not the growing adoption across BC of vegan and vegetarian diets.
Zoonotic diseases are transmitted from animals to humans such as SARS, H1N1, Ebola, HIV, and COVID-19.
Over 800 million animals are killed in Canada each year for food. That number does not include all the fish and marine life killed through the fishing industry.
Workers in slaughterhouses are also victims due to workplace injuries and psychological distress due to kill large numbers of animals daily. Research shows these conditions can lead to PTSD and PITS, including a higher rate of drug use.
According to the UN, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire global transportation sector combined. It takes over 15,000 litres of water to produce 1 kilogram of cow meat, 10,000 litres for sheep meat, 5,000 for pig meat, and over 4,000 litres to produce 1kg of chicken. 77% of global farmland is used for livestock production, but only provides 18% of its calories, and 37% of its protein.
“The pandemic is an opportunity to reset how we treat nature, other animals, and each other. Building a new slaughterhouse is a step backwards into the roots of the pandemic, animal exploitation.”
Victoria Animal News
