Research Briefs

2024

Animals As Agents in Their Own Conservation

In CEAP Research Brief #9, based on a paper by Matthew Hayek and colleagues that appeared in the journal, Conservation Biology, Hayek shows that animals often know what they are doing and our failure to pay attention to this often leads to conservation failure. They reviewed 190 studies employing the most common wildlife, conservation and management strategies, and discovered that in almost all cases animal behavior was viewed as rigid and homogenous, and it was assumed that animals preferred wild to more disturbed habitats. Animals are agents who adapt to changing circumstances in order to satisfy their needs. Smart conservation programs will take this into account.

2022

China’s Food Pagodas : Looking Forward By Looking Back?

In CEAP Research Brief #8, based on a paper co-authored with Dale Jamieson that appeared in the Journal of Food Law and Policy, Professor Yifei Li shows that China’s national food policies have been driven by nutrition and health considerations, largely neglecting wider issues of climate resilience, ecological sustainability, and animal welfare. Yet China has a rich and varied culinary tradition that is healthier for people, animals and the planet than the western diets that have been gaining ground. These traditional dietary practices could have an important role in steering both China and the world towards healthier, more climate-and animal-friendly diets.

Covid-19, One Health, and a right to health for animals

CEAP Research Brief #7, by Laurie Sellars, Kimberly Bernotas and Professor Jeff Sebo, based on a paper appearing in the journal, Health and Human Rights, argues for recognizing a right to health for non-human animals. COVID-19 is a vivid demonstration that human health cannot be neatly sequestered from the health of other animals. Both morality and concern for our own welfare demands that we recognize that animals have a right to health.

Telling better stories about food

CEAP Research Brief #6, based on a book in progress by Professor Christopher Schlottmann, provides a philosophical survey of the place of animals in both nature and in our food systems.  In this brief he challenges us to tell better stories about food—stories that are oriented towards empowerment and the future, rather than the well-worn stories we now tell that are often oriented towards a romantic utopia of the past or dwell on the horrors of the present.

2021

The climate responsibilities of industrial meat and dairy producers

CEAP Research Brief #5 is based on a paper published earlier this month in Climatic Change, the oldest peer-reviewed scientific journal covering cross-disciplinary work on climate change. This study shows that top U.S. meat and dairy companies, along with livestock and agricultural lobbying groups, have spent millions campaigning against climate action and sowing doubt about the links between animal agriculture and climate change. In addition, only a handful of these companies have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the international consensus.

Alligator Wrestling in Florida: Examining Impacts on Animals and Conservation

In CEAP Research Brief #4, Casey Riordan, Professor Jennifer Jacquet, and Professor Becca Franks investigate the welfare and conservation implications of alligator wrestling for American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

2020

Integrating human and animal health can prevent pandemics

In CEAP Research Brief #3, Professor Colin Jerolmack updates his original paper, and tells us that we must “tear down the wall” between human and animal health and embrace the “One Health” paradigm if we are to avoid the next pandemic.

Centering animals in climate change adaptation

CEAP Research Brief #2 prepared by Professor Jeff Sebo, is based on research for a forthcoming book on animals, pandemics and climate change.  Jeff reminds us of the importance of taking animal welfare into account in climate change adaptation, and suggests some ways in which this can be done.  

Improving pulse production for a sustainable food future

The demand for plant-based protein is growing and pulses (e.g., beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas) are an increasingly preferred protein source. Yet we have little idea how pulse production could be scaled up to provide healthy and sustainable diets for everyone. CEAP Research Brief #1 prepared by Professor Matthew Hayek, is the first attempt to quantify this challenge.