Factory Farming

By Kate Bevins

With glamorous advertisements for delicious burgers, or chicken nuggets, it is easy to see why 36.6% of Americans eat fast food on any given day. Some obvious issues that come to mind with these staggering numbers are obesity, and disease. However, one of the biggest ways American food systems are failing ethically and environmentally is through their means of production. That is, factory farming. Factory farming is a method of farming that involves overcrowding animals into extremely small indoor spaces, with the goal of maximizing profits at the cost of animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Factory farming involves the undeniable mistreatment of animals on a large, brutal scale. According to The Humane League, roughly 99 percent of animals in the US are raised on factory farms. These animals often experience a life without ever seeing the sun. They are stuffed in the smallest spaces possible to maximize the amount of meat that can be produced. The welfare of the animals does not matter if they can be slaughtered for a profit. Animal welfare laws consistently place profit on a higher pedestal than any form of welfare. Though the atrocities that take place at factory farms are enough to make humans nauseous at their next purchase of a McDonalds burger, factory farming is not a major concern for the majority of Americans. Why is that? Often people lack full awareness of where their food comes from. Misleading labels on food promote “cage-free”, “humane”, or “free-range” meat and produce when the reality is these labels are simply used to encourage consumers to buy the food. These labels don’t ensure a lack of cruelty. According to Sentient Media, “the Food Safety and Inspection Service does not provide a clear definition of the term ‘free-range’, ... This gives manufacturers broad leeway in how they raise animals.”  Better transparency from companies is crucial to ensure the welfare of animals is truly valued, and it's not just a marketing scheme.

Another significant impact of factory farming is pollution. According to Sentient Media, “(Factory farming) contributes around 14 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily methane from cattle farming and land use change, as well as air and water pollution.” Despite the growing concern over the environment, according to the Farm Sanctuary, “the number of animals being raised for food in the U.S. has reached 1.7 billion.” America is not in desperate need of mass-produced animal products, in fact, quite the opposite. And as these numbers increase, the number of farms nationwide is simultaneously dropping. Small farms traditionally produce far less pollution than factory farms, partly because “Farms traditionally have required minimal regulations because they are guided by a culture of social responsibility rather than economic expediency.” (Sustain Rural Wisconsin). The growth of factory farming without proper government regulation exemplifies lack of concern the government has for both the environment and providing citizens with high quality animal products. As the number of factory farming increases, the impacts on the environment will become irreversible as greedy companies have no limits in their ability to mass produce animal products

Factory farming fails in a variety of ways. It fails ethical standards, it destroys local farm economies and is a huge contributor to the exponential growth of global pollution. Governments need to regulate factory farming to ensure that it passes ethical and environmental standards. Companies have proven that they are willing to place profit over the future consequences to the world factory farming may pose. Factory farming must become a pressing issue at the front of people’s minds for people to stand up to large corporations and pass laws to make long-lasting, positive changes in the way America produces its food.

Sources:

Factory Farming: What It Is and Why It's a Problem

What Is Factory Farming and Why Is it Bad?

25 Animal Welfare Laws to Know Going Into 2025 — The Woof

New Federal Bill to Create Accountability for Cruel Factory Farming Practices | ASPCA

Why Factory Farming is a Moral Atrocity

The Truth Behind "Humane Labels" - Farm Sanctuary

Traditional Farms vs Factory Farms — Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network