Animal capital: a new way to define human-animal bond in view of global changes and food insecurity

"Animal capital" recognizes animals' contributions beyond material value, crucial for human survival. Recognizing material, natural, social, and cultural capital promotes biodiversity and sustainability.
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Sueur, C., Fourneret, É. & Espinosa, R. Animal capital: a new way to define human-animal bond in view of global changes and food insecurity. npj Sustain. Agric. 2, 22 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-024-00030-4

Humans depend on around 50,000 of Earth’s eight million animal species, yet interact with only a dozen daily, mainly for food or as pets. This limited engagement concentrates resources on a few species, threatening biodiversity, destabilizing ecosystems, and raising risks of food insecurity and pandemics. The global economy fails to recognize biodiversity’s true value, leading to underinvestment in animal protection.

Human societies value "human capital"—people’s skills and contributions—but animals offer a similar societal value. The concept of "animal capital" includes four aspects: material, social, natural, and cultural.

  1. Material Capital: This encompasses resources derived from animals, like food and wool, historically crucial for survival. Recent advances, including plant-based diets and cultured meat, offer sustainable ways to benefit from animal capital without harm.

  2. Social Capital: Animals, especially pets, positively impact human health, encouraging physical activity and fostering empathy. Integrating animals in urban design supports well-being by promoting human-nature connectedness.

  3. Natural Capital: Animals provide essential ecosystem services, like pollination and climate regulation. Their presence bolsters ecosystem stability, while species like whales and elephants aid carbon storage, addressing climate change.

  4. Cultural Capital: Animal behaviors hold intrinsic value, aiding human learning and innovation. Indigenous knowledge often derives from animal behaviors, such as using plants for medicine, an inspiration for sustainable practices.

Recognizing animal capital encourages ethical, sustainable relationships with animals, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals. To protect animal capital, four actions are vital: enforcing animal protection laws, safeguarding animal behaviors and habitats, implementing policies for animal welfare, and fostering collaboration among scientists and citizens. Working alongside animals, humans can build a sustainable future, maintaining the ecological balance necessary for survival.

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Environmental Sciences
Physical Sciences > Earth and Environmental Sciences > Environmental Sciences
Behavioral Economics
Humanities and Social Sciences > Economics > Behavioral Economics
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