In general, mistreated animals do NOT make good food products. Eg, they taste bad, and are tough, and have low yields.
I don't think the worlds problems would be solved by us not being opportunistic feeders. If you do, then you are clearly deluded.
Is that the only description of "us" ?
We can be opportunistic feeders, but we can be kind and affectionate towards each other and towards other species.
Given the state of our technological development, It's now a matter of choice.
We choose to be in a certain way (eg. opportunistic feeders) according to our ideology and system of beliefs.
But technically, we don't have to do that anymore. We are now technologically advanced enough to actually be able to make that jump. Or, rather, we are ready to start making that jump and we can improve the technology until we've made it.
We have to, in order to evolve to the next level as a species...
Surely I'm deluded, but no less than people thinking that having (more) concentration camps for billions of animals is the path to a brighter future.
Mistreated animals don't thrive. They don't make a good product.
We treat our animals better than some vegans treat other people, despite the fact that we eat them at the end.