How to Be a Techno-Optimist for Animals - by Robert Yaman
The industrialization of animal agriculture has created an abundance that would shock our ancestors. Meat, eggs, and dairy—which at various points in history were scarce, expensive, or contaminated—are now common, affordable, and safe.
However, in our drive towards economic efficiency, we've shifted much of the true cost of production onto the animals themselves. Any accommodation for animal welfare faces immense competitive pressure to be removed, and the result is a husbandry system that stands in stark contrast to our common-sense ethics. We’ve all seen the videos—the gory details need not be provided.
Farm animal welfare is a serious moral problem, yet the solutions most often proposed lack realism. Some think we should all stop eating meat, others want to revert to an earlier way of life with small family farmers selling to local customers. But these solutions run counter to all the trends of modern society, and it's difficult to imagine either becoming the global norm in an increasingly technological and industrial world.
I believe there’s another way: We can use technology to change what is possible in animal husbandry, and build a scalable, abundant agricultural system that aligns with our values. I founded Innovate Animal Ag to champion this neglected mission
