NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Sub-Saharan African countries should come up with legislation that prohibits mechanized production of livestock products as threats to human and ecological health mount, campaigners said Tuesday.

       Tennyson Williams, the director for Africa at World Animal Protection, said that by placing a moratorium on industrial livestock farming, the continent would shield itself from the spread of pathogens, water contamination and habitats depletion.

       "No new factory farms should emerge in the continent despite our rising demand for meat due to urbanization," Williams remarked during the launch of World Animal Protection's report titled "The Hidden Health Impacts of Industrial Livestock Systems" in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

       He stressed that shifting away from intensive livestock production systems to alternatives that are friendly to nature will boost the climate resilience of local communities besides shielding them from disease-causing pathogens.

       The industrial livestock farming systems that are highly reliant on chemical use have gained traction in Africa, only to undermine the continent's biological diversity and food sovereignty, says the World Animal Protection report.

       It warns that overuse of animal feed and antibiotics to rear cattle, poultry, pigs, goats, sheep and fish has not only depleted planetary resources but also escalated pollution and the spread of superbugs.

       The report says that Africa's ecological integrity and health of its population were in jeopardy amid factory farming of livestock that involves early weaning, use of antibiotics to hasten growth, routine mutilations and close confinement.

       Williamson emphasized that by shifting to livestock production systems that are more humane and ecologically sound, the continent stood a better chance of being food and nutrition secure, disease and pollution-free.

       Victor Yamo, the Farming Campaigns manager at World Animal Protection, said that other negative impacts of industrial livestock farming include compromised food safety, obesity and malnutrition.

       According to Yamo, the consumption of meat in Africa, projected to grow by 30 percent will undermine the continent's quest for carbon neutrality through deforestation. He called for a policy shift to ensure that ecologically friendly livestock production systems are embedded in the continent's transition to a just, inclusive and green future.

       In addition, Yamo said that speedy implementation of the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa will ensure that health and environmental safeguards are adhered to during the production of meat, eggs and milk.

       He called for an end to subsidies aimed at promoting mechanized livestock farming in the continent while urging governments to incentivize pastoralists and subsistence farmers who engaged in organic production of beef, milk and eggs.