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Humans didn't invent agriculture (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 4 months ago by hydroptic@sopuli.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 11 points 4 months ago

It really is a symbiotic relationship we've developed with the things we've domesticated (or that domesticated us)

Especially animals reserved for working instead of eating, because in those situations oftentimes the food being made with the work is shared between the symbiotes.

[-] EpeeGnome@lemm.ee 12 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I would say it's symbiotic to the continued survival and propegation of their genes, but not to their well-being as individuals.

[-] PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee 4 points 4 months ago

Depends on the situation, factory farming definitely, but for most natural raised situations I'd argue the animal's well being is like 99% of the work being done.

[-] SuddenDownpour@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 months ago

It's also a double-edged sword. The moment a domesticated species isn't useful enough for us, its numbers (and therefore genes) will decrease dramatically. Plenty of livestock populations may be reduced to a tiny size if artificial meat production becomes cheap enough, or if it's decided to be a necessity to fight climate change.