The Impact of Factory Farms on Water Quality
In this episode, host Thomas Hynes delves deep into the environmental impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) with expert insights from Dr. Michael Malin, a research professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Kemp Burdette, Cape Fear Riverkeeper.
The discussion covers the extensive pollution caused by swine and poultry farms in North Carolina, the devastating effects of hurricanes on these facilities, and the subsequent impacts on water quality, ecosystems, and public health. Key topics include the pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus leading to algae blooms, the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the inadequacies in CAFO waste management and regulation. The guests highlight the challenges faced in regulating non-point source pollution, the powerful industry lobbying, and the urgent need for more stringent policies.
The conversation also underscores the importance of sustainable farming practices and reducing meat consumption to mitigate these environmental challenges. This episode is a call to action for better regulation and transparency to protect the environment and public health from the adverse effects of industrial agriculture.
The discussion covers the extensive pollution caused by swine and poultry farms in North Carolina, the devastating effects of hurricanes on these facilities, and the subsequent impacts on water quality, ecosystems, and public health. Key topics include the pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus leading to algae blooms, the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the inadequacies in CAFO waste management and regulation. The guests highlight the challenges faced in regulating non-point source pollution, the powerful industry lobbying, and the urgent need for more stringent policies.
The conversation also underscores the importance of sustainable farming practices and reducing meat consumption to mitigate these environmental challenges. This episode is a call to action for better regulation and transparency to protect the environment and public health from the adverse effects of industrial agriculture.
Creators and Guests
Host
Thomas Hynes
Thomas Hynes is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Waterkeeper Alliance. In addition to podcast hosting and production duties, he manages and writes all sorts of editorial content for the organization, including blogs, feature articles, advocacy alerts, email campaigns, social media content, and more. Thomas grew up on the Long Island Sound in Connecticut and now makes his home two blocks from the East River in Brooklyn, New York. He primarily commutes across the river to the Waterkeeper Alliance office via ferry boat. Thomas was drawn to environmental work in order to take an active role in the fight against climate change and help bring justice to the rotten polluters who seek to ruin our shared resources. Before working at Waterkeeper Alliance, Thomas wrote a nonfiction book about the history of wildlife in New York City. "Wild City" also highlights the power and success of the Clean Water Act, and other environmental regulations, in leading an unlikely ecological turnaround. In his spare time, Thomas photographs the many tugboats traversing the city’s various waterways. Thomas lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their son. They can be found most weekends walking or biking along the East River.
Guest
Dr. Michael A. Mallin
Dr. Michael A. Mallin is a Research Professor at the Center for Marine Sciences at University of North Carolina Wilmington and the author of River Ecology. Science and Management for a Changing World from Oxford Press.. He has worked on the issue of CAFOs since the 1990s.
Guest
Kemp Burdette
Kemp Burdette is the Cape Fear Riverkeeper and works to protect and improve the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River in North Carolina. He is a Wilmington native who grew up exploring the waterways and swamps that make the area so special. Kemp has lived and traveled around the world as a US Navy search and rescue swimmer, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Peace Corps volunteer.
Producer
Lori Harrison
Lori Harrison is the Communications and Marketing Director for Waterkeeper Alliance. She oversees multi-faceted communications and marketing activities to advance the organization’s mission of protecting our right to clean water in communities around the world. With 25 years of experience in strategic water communications and mission-based work, Lori is an award-winning writer and content creator. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into relatable ideas, fostering engagement, and promoting sustainable practices and solutions. Her work not only aims to protect clean water, public health, and the environment but also focuses on "connecting the disconnect" between people and this essential resource. Before joining Waterkeeper Alliance, Lori had a background in corporate marketing for professional sports and held various communications and creative positions with a non-profit educational organization for global water professionals. Notable achievements include creating the WATER'S WORTH IT® grassroots awareness campaign and writing the award-winning children's book, “Why Water's Worth It,” designed to educate and inspire the next generation of water protectors. Lori lives in Virginia with her husband and their two children.
