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Thesis: Factory farming ruins family farms, increases food-borne illness from pesticides, causes damager to the environment and is the main factor behind animal suffering.

i. The average American consumes food that travels of 1,500 miles before it reaches their plate. Eating locally would drastically decrease the amount of burning fossil fuels that are polluting the atmosphere. U.S agriculture as currently practiced emits a total of 1.5 trillion pounds of CO2 annually into the atmosphere. Because local food doesn’t travel long distances when it is locally grown, the producers are able to use less gas and fossil fuels as well as decreasing CO2 emissions in their transportation.

ii. Anemia, influenza, intestinal diseases, pneumonia, and scours are only the beginning of a long list of ailments coming from eating animals raised in factory farms (HFA). To keep the 7 billion people in the world fed, our agricultural system consumes enormous quantities of fuel, fertilizers and pesticides to produce the grains, meat and poultry, and fruits and vegetables. Diet related diseases account for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.

iii. The “locavore” movement is about much more than tender plucked carrots and juicy red tomatoes. It’s about transforming and democratizing the food system. I’ve learned that one of the reasons people don’t buy locally grown food is that it is more expensive than any other grocery stores, which is true. But the movement is about making it so high-quality and nutrient-rich food affordable and available to all people.

iv. Confinement at high stocking density requires antibiotics and pesticides to mitigate the spread of disease by the crowded living conditions, and they don’t disappear. They pollute not only our soil but also our water systems all over the country. A well-managed family farm is a place where the resources of fertile soil and clean water are valued. Nutrients that are taken from the soil by growing crops are replaced. According to the Farmers Market Association, farmers who practice conservation tillage could cut 12-14% of the carbon emitted by vehicles.

v. Get involved! Community-supported agricultures allow individuals and families to buy a share of local farms. With more and more towns implementing ideas such as community farms, more people will have healthy and locally grown fresh food more readily available. As consumers, we have most control over which industry to support: we have the money. Spending it in the right place helps the local farming industry and promotes living a healthier, more nutritious lifestyle.