Each year, approximately 55 billion land and sea animals are killed to sustain the United States (U.S.) food supply. While this staggering number may seem incomprehensible, the pain and suffering endured by these animals is real. The gravity of this issue is exacerbated by the fact that around 99 percent of farmed animals in the U.S. are raised on factory farms, where inhumane living conditions are standard. As the nation’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for animal-based food products, intensifying the harm to animals, the environment, and public health. These alarming realities underscore the urgent need for reform and the exploration of a more sustainable and ethical food system.
Factory farming, also known as intensive animal farming or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), is defined as a “system of animal agriculture intended to maximize output while minimizing space requirements and resource expenditures.” Animals in these systems are crammed into overcrowded spaces, unable to engage in natural behaviors, and are often subjected to painful mutilations to accommodate their intensive confinement. These industrial farms present significant threats to the environment and public health, in addition to the immense suffering inflicted on animals, because they prioritize efficiency over welfare.
The rise of CAFOs in the mid-20th century marked a drastic transformation in U.S. agriculture, shifting the agricultural landscape from predominately small, family-operated farms to large-scale industrial operations. The nostalgic image of small family farms has become increasingly rare as modern farming now resembles industrial assembly lines, where animals are commodified and treated as products awaiting slaughter. Similarly, U.S. fish farming, or aquaculture, began in the 19th century for recreation but has since evolved to meet growing seafood demand. Over time, this demand has led to the over-exploitation of certain wild fish species, prompting the seafood industry to turn to aquaculture. Today, fish farming in the U.S. now exceeds wild capture fishing in production, reflecting the relentless industrialization of food systems.
The treatment of animals on factory farms starkly contrasts with the idyllic and peaceful conditions often associated with farming. Animals in these operations endure endless suffering, overcrowding, confinement, and physical mutilations to accommodate the demands of intensive confinement. For example, land-based factory farms often confine poultry to overcrowded battery cages and pregnant sows to restrictive gestation crates, and separate calves from their mothers shortly after birth. Additionally, animals frequently undergo painful procedures such as beak trimming, dehorning, and tail docking, designed to reduce injuries caused by their crowded and unnatural living conditions.
Aquaculture imposes similarly harsh conditions on fish, confining them to overcrowded tanks or net pens that bear no resemblance to their natural habitats. The scale of fish farming is astonishing, with fish measured by the ton rather than as individual beings, making the total number of lives lost incalculable.
These unnatural conditions weaken immune systems, necessitating the use of antibiotics to prevent and treat disease outbreaks. Antibiotics are also often used to promote growth, enabling animals to reach market size faster and reflecting the industry’s prioritization of profit over animal welfare.
The impact that factory farming has on animals is undeniable. Too often, animals are treated as mere commodities, echoing René Descartes’ antiquated view of them as “automata,” lacking souls and the ability to feel pain. This perspective has long been used to justify the exploitation of animals as objects. However, the growing body of evidence supporting animal sentience makes it clear that animals, much like humans, can experience pain and suffering. Recognizing animal suffering should compel society to reduce its reliance on animal-based food systems and adopt more compassionate and sustainable alternatives.
Beyond ethical concerns, industrial farming has devastating environmental consequences. Factory farms rely heavily on chemicals and produce waste that severely pollutes the environment. In the U.S., land-based factory farms are responsible for 13 percent of total methane emissions. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the second largest contributor to global warming. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, driving climate change. Factory farming also drives deforestation, clearing vital ecosystems for livestock grazing and feed crop cultivation. This environmental destruction threatens biodiversity and disrupts natural habitats. Water use is another critical issue, with factory farms consuming 55 percent of the nation’s water supply, far outpacing household consumption. This excessive water consumption strains local water resources, exacerbating shortages and impacting surrounding communities. The excessive waste produced by these facilities further degrades the environment. Animal waste, often stored in lagoons, is prone to leaking. These leaks can contaminate groundwater and drinking water supplies. Furthermore, runoff from fields treated with animal waste can introduce pollutants into waterways, damaging ecosystems and threatening public health.
Aquaculture poses similar environmental risks, including marine pollution, habitat destruction, and the risks posed when farmed fish escape their pens. Waste and uneaten feed release excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, triggering algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels and ultimately suffocate aquatic life. Overcrowded fish farms, designed to maximize production, can stress fish, increasing their susceptibility to infection, aggression, and food competition—further degrading water quality. Additionally, because many fish farms are located in the open ocean, the risk of disease spreading to wild fish populations is substantial. Farmed fish that escape their pens can harm wild fish populations through competition for food and habitat, transmission of disease, reproductive mixing, and the introduction of invasive species.
The public health risks associated with factory farming are equally concerning. Because of the intensive confinement on factory farms, diseases run rampant, enabling the spread of zoonotic diseases, pathogens, and virulent strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Antibiotics are extensively used to prevent disease outbreaks in farmed fish, even before illness occurs. Human consumption of food containing antibiotic-resistant bacteria is accelerating the development of antibiotic resistance in humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.” The overuse of antibiotics in factory farming accelerates antibiotic resistance, posing significant threats to human health.
The future of life on Earth depends on moving away from the unsustainable practices of industrial farming. Ending factory farming could spare billions of animal lives annually, mitigate environmental destruction, and improve public health. As Animal Equality highlights, “[a] world without industrial fishing and without the chicken industry would save 1,613,000,000,000 . . . fish and 66 billion chickens every year.” Such a transformation would alleviate animal suffering, mitigate environmental destruction, and protect human health.
Factory farming is rapidly approaching a critical breaking point—if it has not already reached one. The pressing questions are: will we recognize this tipping point before it is too late, and how will we respond when it is crossed? Now is the time to critically reevaluate our food systems and their far-reaching consequences. Ending factory farming (both land- and sea-based) could hold the answer to addressing some of the most urgent challenges facing our planet today.
Although factory farming is a relatively new concept, its consequences are catastrophic. It inflicts tremendous animal suffering, drives environmental degradation, and endangers public health. Without intervention, the long-term impacts will be devastating. Transitioning to sustainable and humane food systems is essential for a healthier, more ethical, and resilient future.
