I'm sure you've heard about it by now as it's drawn a lot of media attention and condemnation from the public, who have no doubt done their best to put an end to the industry by reading a news article and perhaps signing a petition, the animal live export industry is a growing trade. The rising global demand for animal meat has resulted in the quadrupling of the export of live farm animals in the last half century, with two billion being exported in 2017, up from one billion in 2007. Roughly five million animals are in transit every day across the globe.
Animals that are put on these journeys are treated to custom built ships that are made specifically for the purpose of transporting the animals and they are often packed so tight that the animals can barely move for the days or weeks of the voyage, meaning they get to develop close relationships with their peers. Australia for example have sent 200 million animals on these scenic voyages over the past 30 years to the middle east, with only 2.5 million of them dying on route due to the humane conditions they're afforded on these wonderful and comfortable vessels. Regulations allow a mortality rate of between 1% and 2% on each voyage without any investigation, so the industry clearly treats the animals with the utmost of respect. On this same route from Australia to the middle east, another protein export is not treated with such humanity.
In the broad bean export trade, there are no regulations on mortality rates. They're allowed to be grown anywhere, at any time, and shipped all over the world without any consideration for their well being. The ships they are transported on are not built for the custom purpose of transporting them and don't allow the beans a sea view on the voyage. Where cattle are exported by calculating the number of animals, truly recognising them as individuals, broad beans are simply exported by weight. Where sheep are fed grain on the floor of the ships (the same floor they defecate on so that they aren't inconvenienced by having to move), broad beans are given no food at all. You can search the internet and find footage of the conditions afforded to exported animals, but we can assure you no matter how many hours you spend searching for videos documenting the plight of a bean abroad, you wont find a thing. All I ask is that you ask yourself why?
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