Work

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

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: We propose the concept of “animal capital” to acknowledge animals’ contributions beyond material value, essential for human survival. Despite humans relying on 50,000 species, interaction is limited to a few, destabilizing ecosystems and increasing risks like food insecurity and pandemics. Recognizing animal capital’s four components—material, natural, social, and cultural—can drive better investment in biodiversity, aiding in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring both human and animal survival.

Source: npj Sustainable Agriculture

DOI: 10.1038/s44264-024-00030-4

Authors: Cédric Sueur, Éric Fourneret, Romain Espinosa