World hunger. It's a huge problem, and one that almost everyone wants to put an end to. There are many organizations that seek to serve and provide for people without food. You can pay about a dollar a day to feed and provide for one child. That's fantastic. Other organizations are working to build wells to provide clean water, which is so important. Many people are seeking to solve this problem and serve the Lord in doing so, and that is incredible.
But what if there was a super practical way that you and I could seriously help to end world hunger? And what if that solution was to dramatically decrease our consumption of animal products?
It's no secret that animal agriculture uses most of the water on this planet. It requires approximately 2400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef, but only 180 gallons to produce and process 1 pound of wheat. Additionally, 80% of the land used for agiculture in the U.S. alone is being used to raise animals for meat or to store the food they will consume during that process.
If we converted all of this land from producing meat and grain to feed meat, to land used to raise crops for human consumption, we could easily feed the population of the entire world.
I know what a lot of people would think, and I understand that logistically there has to be a lot more going on than just food production. The biggest hurdle is not simply creating enough food, rather it is getting that food into the hands and mouths of those who need it. That is still a huge feat, but taking steps in the right direction is the place we have to start. I believe that.
Sure, maybe it sounds pretty far fetched. And maybe it's true that the simple relocation of the food that exists today would significantly decrease the global food needs. But for me, this idea is too big to ignore. Doing some research has me thinking that one of the most practical steps I can take today to help end world hunger is also one of the best ways to help the planet and likely my own health.
I don't think it's realistic to expect all the masses to choose veganism, or even vegetarianism, but I do think it is an easy step to simply decrease consumption of animal products consumed in a day. There are so many reasons this choice will make a positive impact, and for me the one I highlighted above is one of the most compelling.
So, I don't know for sure. But does anyone know anything for sure? Probably not. The issues are way too big to ignore, and a possible solution seems to be staring us right in the face. So I just have to ask the question: What if WE could solve world hunger?
If you want to learn more about this, I'd love to share some articles, websites, and documentaries with you! Additionally, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm very interested in this topic, and can't wait to hear other opinions, facts, thoughts, and ideas.
