Study: Organic eggs worse for climate than caged chickens
It's a point I've been trying to make for a long time: there is no good way to meet even 10% of current demand for animal products. They trash the living world, whichever way you do it. If you want to reduce your impact, switch to a plant-based diet. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
George Monbiot132There's an organic exceptionalism at work: I'm a good consumer because I eat only organic eggs / pasture-fed meat etc. In many cases these have a higher, sometimes MUCH higher, environmental impact. The worst of all farm products are organic beef and lamb. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Max Cairnduff19Isn’t organic for most people about health (dubious admittedly) and animal welfare? I’m sure some fondly imagine sprawling farms from an imagined 1950s but isn’t the welfare issue the bigger driver to organic?
Sir Basil11Also, it's much easier to switch than I feared
Meh Pluribus Unum (Alli) 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈10"This is because organic free-range models need more chickens for the same number of eggs produced, as birds living in cages tend to be more efficient." "Living" and "efficient" are doing a lot of work here.
European Heart9This product is amazing. www.onego.bio/product
Paul Harper5I have no interest in reducing my impact. I eat whatever I feel like eating and am more than happy for others to make that decision for themselves. Militant vegetablists are the modern day Crusaders, imposing their morality on others without so much as a please or thank you. Tedious people.
George Monbiot60This accidentally became a thread.
Tristan Grayford10This is useful information for people, yes, but I simply do not know a single person who avoids caged chicken eggs because of concerns about the environment specifically. The entire appeal of free range is the reduced cruelty, right?
Magic Money Tree8It's honestly childish how much meat and animal products people feel entitled to consume. When I explain to people why I'm vegan it can be like explaining to an eight-year-old why they probably shouldn't stay up until 11pm playing computer games whilst snorting Dib Dabs
Annie Leymarie3Most objections are about welfare but @parliamentarygoose.bsky.social explains in 'Treated Like Animals': "There are more advantages than disadvantages with cage systems in comparison with alternative (non-cage) housing". So yes, avoid the lot, go plant-based: will likely benefit your own health!
Libby Hudson2Just checking I’ve got this right: a study comparing the impact on the planet of organic v non-organic farming methods “did not take into account … impacts such as pesticides or biodiversity.”?
If that's really true, the conclusion shouldn't be to keep more chickens in cages, but to consume fewer eggs.
Bean & Sprout's Mom17"The research also did not take into account other environmental impacts such as pesticides or biodiversity." Not exactly rock star LCA work there. Sigh.
Steve Baty (He/him)5They used to make similar arguments about workhouses for poor children.
Maria Elena4What does "organic" even mean for livestock? We had chickens for awhile when I was a kid. They got grain and table scraps and things they scratched up in the yard and then went into the coop to roost at night, safe from predators. That's what I envision a chicken's life should be.
robod99.bsky.social4Organic does not mean better welfare, healthier of even tastier. It can do, but that is not what is being certified.
Brett Little3Better to go with the other certification instead of organic. Certified humane.
Sylvia the strange3Or keep your own chickens if you can. You can use the litter for compost and be sure the ladies are being well treated.
aahhhhhhhhhhh can't we have anything, can't we do anything right www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fine Art by Jules7What a load of utter b*ll*cks!. Should people work in cages too so they don't travel and are then more efficient?. You can't make this utter shite up!. Sorry but I was an organic gardener and the difference between an organic fed free chicken and a caged one are 10 fold, healthier and happier.
RickChasey5Yeah food and climate is very counter intuitive. New Zealand Lamb consumed in the UK is *significantly* better for the environment than British lamb for similar reasons, including the refrigerated journey across the world
Rupert Stubbs3The methodology seems a bit weird. Basically they’re saying free-range chickens need more land (duh) - but that land will be grass rather than (say) housing, which feels as if that should be better? I’m sure the numbers can be calculated their way, but I suspect the opposite may also be true...
Katerona2Everyone has to go vegan. Sorry but thats the choice to save the planet. Either go vegan or bust.
Emily B2It’s one study that studied one year (2009-2010), that didn’t take into account all impacts. It may be the truth but it may also just be part of the truth, it’s really not possible to say based on one study. It would have been nice if the article analyzed other studies instead of just this one.
Jonathan Keenan2Just consider which chicken you’d rather be.
