Welcome to Green Talk #8 🌱

👋 Speaker: Natalie Amesa from New Roots Institute

📚 Background: - Bachelor's in Liberal Studies - Teaching License from the University of West Florida - Master's in Humane Education from Antioch University

Overview of Factory Farming 🍽️

🌍 Focus: Understanding the food system in the US, which is largely based on factory farming.

💡 Key Points: - Factory farming impacts pandemics, deforestation, and social justice issues. - Factory farming began in 1923 with Celia Steel's poultry farm. - The number of farms in the US has decreased to 1,948,487 in 2022, a 7% decline since 2017.

Factory Farming Basics 🐖

🔍 Definition: Factory farming refers to large-scale industrial agriculture that raises animals in confined spaces.

📈 Statistics: - 10 billion land animals are killed annually in the US for meat, dairy, and eggs. - 99% of these animals come from factory farms.

Environmental and Health Impacts 🌎

💧 Water Usage: - Average dairy cow uses 4,954 gallons of water per day. - Factory farming is a leading cause of water pollution in the US.

🌱 Land Usage: - 45% of the world's habitable land is used for agriculture, primarily for livestock. - Reducing meat consumption could save 5.5 billion acres of land.

Solutions and Alternatives 🌿

🔄 Dietary Changes: - Shifting to plant-based diets can significantly reduce carbon footprints. - Replacing beef with beans could meet 75% of greenhouse gas goals from the Paris Agreement.

🌟 Initiatives: - Companies like Sedexo and LinkedIn are increasing plant-based offerings. - California schools are incorporating more plant-based meals.

Conclusion and Call to Action 📢

🤝 Get Involved: Consider joining the Leadership Academy at New Roots Institute for further education and networking opportunities.

📋 Feedback: Please fill out the end-of-class survey to stay connected and provide feedback.

🙏 Thank you for participating in Green Talk #8! Let's work towards a more sustainable food system together!