ABSTRACT

Chapter 6, “Industrial agriculture,” discusses the empirical dimensions of food, animals, and the environment that apply to industrial agriculture, including a brief history of the modern impacts of industrial practices. We cover topics such as fertilizer synthesizing, food processing technology, and advanced plant breeding. The next section presents information about animal experiences in the industrial agricultural system. We then discuss the environmental impacts of industrial agriculture, focusing on conversion ratios, greenhouse gases, and the complexity of multifactor environmental assessment. Finally, we detail the impacts of industrial agriculture on humans. We note that while there are some traits unique to industrial and non-industrial agriculture, respectively, the distinction is imperfect and complex. Some agricultural practices combine elements of both, and all forms of agriculture require the disruption of environments.