Imagine a world without animals. You’ll soon see how much we need them | Jules Howard

Hand-pollinating crops, growing meat in labs and dealing with the stench of scavenging fungus – this is the future we faceA couple of years ago we heard news that 50% of all vertebrate species had disappeared in 40 years. On Thursday, we were greeted with news that by 2020 the figure is likely to rise to 66% of all vertebrates. It is no wonder that the conservationists are shouting. It is no wonder that they are so desperate to get their message heard. Animals, it seems, are on the way out