Factory Farming

Factory farming, also identified as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), involves raising large numbers of animals in confined spaces to boost production and profitability. This method has gained popularity since the early 20th century due to the increasing global demand for the consumption of animal products. However, it presents significant sustainability issues, including environmental degradation, resource depletion, and major ethical concerns.

As the Institute of Agriculture and Trade (IATP) explains, the high concentration of livestock in factory farms generates enormous volumes of waste, exceeding the land's ability to manage it. This excess causes waste runoff that contaminates nearby water sources. Additionally, factory farming is a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane and nitrous oxide, which are far more potent than carbon dioxide in their ability to contribute to global warming, explains the IATP. These emissions worsen climate change, endangering ecological stability and raising significant concerns about the sustainability of our consumption patterns according to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that at any given moment, over 1.6 billion chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals are being raised for food in the United States. Each year, more than 10 billion farm animals are slaughtered. This industrialized process heavily relies on significant resource use, particularly in terms of water and land use. Growing feed crops such as corn and soy often results in deforestation and habitat loss as forests are cleared for agricultural land. This not only reduces biodiversity but also contributes to soil degradation and water scarcity, undermining sustainable resource management. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that in 2015, 62% of groundwater withdrawals were allocated for livestock production. This amounted to almost two billion gallons of water per day in 2015.

The push for efficiency in factory farming often undermines animal welfare, as animals are kept in overcrowded and stressful conditions. The Humane League reveals such routine factory farming practices, including highly unsanitary environments, separating mother cows from their newborn calves, cutting off chicken beaks, castrating male piglets, and tail trimming, all without anesthesia. Many of these animals experience the outdoors only when being transported to the slaughterhouse. Furthermore, the industry’s focus on large-scale operations marginalizes local farmers, jeopardizing their livelihoods and exacerbating social inequalities. Human Rights Watch highlights that slaughterhouse workers endure significant inequalities, facing some of the most deplorable and dangerous working conditions of any job in the U.S. Workers receive unfair compensation and face unjust labor practices, resulting in nearly half of them living below the poverty line; many workers come from marginalized communities, with 80% being people of color and 30% being undocumented immigrants says The Human Rights Watch. These practices contradict the goal of promoting sustainability through inclusive and equitable economic systems established by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which is essential for long-term viability and fairness in the economics and occupational safety of agriculture.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) describes the One Health approach as a collaborative, multidisciplinary strategy that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. A significant issue in this field is the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which are illnesses capable of spreading between animals and humans. Alarmingly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans have a zoonotic origin, often stemming from livestock. For instance, the current avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak can be transmitted from poultry to humans, posing serious health risks and disrupting food and economic systems. Another critical concern in animal agriculture is antimicrobial resistance, which can result from the overuse of antibiotics in livestock to prevent or treat infections. The emergence of resistant bacteria poses significant threats, according to the USDA, as these pathogens can transfer from animals to humans through direct contact, environmental routes, or the consumption of animal products, diminishing the effectiveness of common treatments.

The Triple Bottom Line, as described by Harvard Business School (2020), is a sustainability framework that evaluates an issue or organization through three interconnected pillars: People, which emphasizes social sustainability by assessing its impact on human well-being, including labor rights, community health, and social equity; Planet, focusing on environmental sustainability by examining ecological impacts such as resource consumption, pollution, and ecological degradation; and Profit, which considers economic sustainability by analyzing financial viability, long-term economic health, and the wider societal implications of economic actions. Factory farming poses a considerable challenge to sustainability when examined through the Triple Bottom Line framework, which takes into account environmental, social, and economic factors. I invite you to watch the following three videos through the lens of each dimension of The Triple Bottom Line.

The social sustainability of factory farming is highly problematic. Workers on factory farms face unsafe conditions, exposure to zoonotic diseases, and inadequate protections for their labor rights. This video presents a firsthand account from former slaughterhouse workers about the conditions they encountered. It also emphasizes the complex ethical dilemma arising from the inhumane treatment of animals that workers are compelled to enforce.

Factory farming is a major contributor to climate change, water pollution, and deforestation. This video highlights the global impact of factory farming. Industrial farms produce significant amounts of greenhouse gases, accelerating global warming, generating waste runoff, and contaminating water sources.

While factory farms are economically efficient and can provide inexpensive food, they pose long-term economic risks. The consolidation of industrial agriculture negatively impacts small farmers and undermines local food sovereignty. Furthermore, the hidden costs of environmental cleanup, public health issues, and antibiotic resistance burden governments and taxpayers. This video highlights the concealed economic costs associated with factory farming.

This infographic visually represents the key sustainability issues of factory farming by highlighting its environmental, social, and economic impacts. Words like "emissions" and “water” emphasize the environmental degradation caused by factory farming, including water contamination, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and land degradation. Additionally, terms such as “animals” and “suffering” underscore the ethical concerns and social impacts related to animal welfare, worker conditions, and public health risks from pollution. Economically, the mention of “factory,” “agriculture,” and “plant-based” reflects the industrial scale of factory farming and the growing shift toward sustainable food alternatives.

Key Sustainability Performance Indicators

The first KPI tracks methane and nitrous oxide emissions per production animal. This metric is crucial because factory farming significantly contributes to these emissions, which are far more potent than CO ₂ . Monitoring total emissions is essential for assessing progress in reducing them through decreased consumption or the adoption of sustainable practices in feed management, waste management, and regenerative agriculture.

The second KPI focuses on evaluating water consumption and pollution levels, quantified in gallons used and the presence of contaminants in runoff. Factory farms use a significant amount of freshwater to raise livestock and grow feed. This heavy use can deplete freshwater sources and lead to pollution in our waterways from manure runoff and elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. By measuring the gallons of water consumed per pound of meat and the concentrations of pollutants like nitrates, ammonia, and antibiotics in downstream water sources, we can gain a clearer understanding of the true cost of factory farming.

The third KPI is the animal welfare score, which assesses factors like confinement levels, stress rates, and mortality rates among the animals. Factory farms often place animals in highly stressful environments, leading to diseases and injuries, as well as moral and ethical concerns. This KPI can be evaluated by looking at metrics such as animal treatment, method of slaughter, the square footage allocated per animal, the use of antibiotics for disease prevention, and the mortality rates resulting from stress-related illnesses. By concentrating on this KPI, the goal is to promote humane treatment of animals, enhance living conditions, and decrease reliance on antibiotics.

The public health risk serves as the fourth KPI, focusing on antibiotic resistance and cases of zoonotic diseases. The overuse of antibiotics in factory farming significantly contributes to the escalating public health crisis of antimicrobial resistance, while zoonotic diseases like avian flu pose global threats. This KPI measures the percentage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in livestock waste and tracks the number of reported zoonotic disease outbreaks linked to factory farms. Addressing this risk allows us to promote responsible antibiotic use, enhance disease monitoring, and strengthen our biosecurity measures.

Finally, the fifth KPI evaluates economic fairness and the resilience of our food systems by comparing the market share of small farmers to that of large industrial factory farm corporations like Purdue and other major factory farms. These massive farms often marginalize smaller farmers, making our food system more vulnerable, especially during tough economic times. This measure assesses the percentage of all agricultural production originating from small, sustainable farms compared to industrial ones. The goal is to strengthen local food economies and advocate for policy changes that offer sustainable farmers a fair chance.

The Climate Neutral by ClimatePartner certification ensures that a company takes measurable actions to reduce and offset its carbon emissions through a five-step climate action process. This process involves calculating emissions, setting reduction targets, implementing reductions, offsetting unavoidable emissions, and committing to continuous improvement. Factory farming significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane from livestock digestion and nitrous oxide from manure management. The Climate Neutral certification is crucial in holding meat and dairy producers accountable for their carbon footprints and encourages them to adopt more environmentally friendly practices. These practices include reducing methane emissions through better feed and manure management, investing in regenerative farming to offset emissions, and transitioning to alternative protein sources that are less harmful to the planet. If large meat and dairy companies pursued Climate Neutral certification, they would need to seriously concentrate on reducing emissions, which could greatly diminish the climate impact of industrial animal farming. Furthermore, this certification could lead consumers to more sustainable food options, helping everyone move away from high-emission factory-farmed choices.

1. Transition to Plant-Based Diets and Ethical Alternatives

The most impactful action people can take is to dramatically reduce or eliminate their consumption of factory-farmed animal products. Adopting a more plant-based diet not only lowers the demand for industrial animal agriculture but also significantly decreases one's water footprint, land use, and greenhouse gas emissions. For those who still consume animal products, consider cutting back on intake and ensuring that you know where and how the animals are raised and slaughtered. Begin exploring alternatives to animal products; even substituting plant-based options a few times a week can make a significant difference. Additionally, reflect on the hidden cost of a single burger: look into the process, ask questions, and think about the life of the animal from which the meat you are consuming comes.

2. Demand Legislative Reform and Stronger Regulations

Individual action is essential, but systemic change is crucial. Advocate for policies that impose strict environmental, public health, and animal welfare regulations on industrial farms. Urge legislation that prohibits new factory farm construction, enforces emissions limits, regulates waste disposal, and eliminates taxpayer subsidies for large-scale animal agriculture. Your voice, through voting, lobbying, and civic participation, can help reshape food policy towards sustainability and justice.

3. Support a Moratorium on New Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

Community resistance to factory farming is increasing, and one of the most significant steps forward is supporting local and national efforts to prevent the development of new industrial facilities. Moratoriums create space for meaningful dialogue, alternative solutions, and a shift in public funding toward regenerative agriculture. These grassroots campaigns often focus on protecting public health, clean water, rural economies, and community well-being and self-determination.

4. Raise Awareness and Educate Others

Public knowledge is powerful! Share what you’ve discovered about the effects of factory farming, including its impact on the climate, animals, water, workers, and local communities. Use social media, organize community workshops, or host movie nights to spark conversations and engage people. Teaching others can inspire new lifestyles and create collective action, amplifying your impact far beyond just your own choices.

5. Divest from Factory Farming and Invest in Regenerative Alternatives

Be mindful of where your money goes. Redirect your spending to support local food cooperatives, farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture, and businesses that prioritize sustainable practices. Additionally, encourage institutions such as schools, workplaces, and retirement funds to divest from companies that profit from factory farming and instead support a food system that respects ecological limits and community well-being.

Final Thoughts

Factory farming represents one of the most pressing issues of sustainability and environmental justice today. It is a system that prioritizes mass production and corporate profit over ecological balance, animal welfare, and human health. The consequences of this model extend far beyond the boundaries of industrial farms; it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, contaminates our air and water, accelerates deforestation, and undermines rural economies. Even more concerning is how these harms disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. This system is also fundamentally unsustainable, straining natural ecosystems beyond their limits. The overuse of antibiotics in livestock fuels antibiotic resistance, posing a global health threat from zoonotic diseases. The vast consumption of water and grain to feed confined animals squanders precious resources that could be utilized more efficiently and equitably. The immense suffering endured by billions of animals in confinement represents a moral crisis in its own right.

Factory farming doesn’t have to be our only option. It’s shaped by the choices, consumer habits, and corporate strategies that can be changed. We can create a food system based on justice, sustainability, and compassion. This shift begins when people start making more thoughtful food choices, when communities push for change, and when lawmakers are encouraged to reconsider things like agricultural subsidies, regulations, and environmental protections. Putting an end to factory farming isn’t just caring for animals; it’s also about looking out for people, communities, and our shared planet. It helps ensure we have clean air and water, a stable climate, and fair access to food for everyone now and in the future. By working together, taking informed steps, and standing up for change, we can break down this damaging system and build a future that's more resilient, fair, and sustainable.

References:

Action for the Climate Emergency. (2022). The Dirt on Factory Farms. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yVcZT0Sa0k

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a). About zoonotic diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/about-zoonotic-diseases.html

Factory Farming: What It Is and Why It’s A Problem. Thehumaneleague.org. (2021). https://thehumaneleague.org/article/water-use-in-animal-agriculture

Factory farming: A recipe for disaster for Animals & Our Planet. ASPCA. (2025). https://www.aspca.org/protecting-farm-animals/factory-farming-environment

Interview: How the US is making meatpacking jobs even more dangerous. Human Rights Watch. (2020, October 28). https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/04/interview-how-us-making-meatpacking-jobs-even-more-dangerous?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyIOWt7fViwMVHg2tBh11gR5iEAAYASAAEgLWlfD_BwE

Miller, K. (2020, December 8). The triple bottom line: What it is & why it’s important. Business Insights Blog. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/what-is-the-triple-bottom-line

One Health. Home. (2024). https://www.usda.gov/farming-and-ranching/animal-science/one-health

Ritter, T. (2017). Hidden props for factory farms in California climate programs. Institute for Agriculture and trade Policy. https://www.iatp.org/blog/201904/hidden-props-factory-farms-california-climate-programs

Vice News. (2021). Your Taxes Are Paying for America’s Meat Obsession. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwPBFtHf6gk

United Nations. (2017). The 17 goals | sustainable development. United Nations. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Winters, E. (2024). Slaughterhouse Workers Confess on Camera. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWyK389BJoI