Hidden cost of feeding grain to farm animals to hit $1.32tn a year

Campaigners say humans must address the huge hidden costs of industrial farming, such as wasted food and calories

Our habit of feeding human foods, such as grain and soya, to farm animals will cost us $1.32tn (1tn) a year by 2050 globally, according to environmental campaigners.

The hidden costs of the industrial farming system are vast, and urgently need to be brought into clear focus, Peter Stevenson of Compassion in World Farming told the Extinction and Livestock conference in London. "There's a worrying disconnect between the retail price of food and the true cost of production. As a result, food produced at great environmental cost can appear to be cheaper than more sustainably produced alternatives."