August
2024
In the UK, Mercy For Animals secured a landmark victory that will end the worst cruelty for the billions of shrimp in Tesco’s supply chain. In Brazil, we reached new milestones in our ongoing efforts to bring animal agriculture into climate policy conversations. And in the United States, the New York Times highlighted our Transfarmation™ program across two articles.
Transforming Shrimp Welfare
United Kingdom
After a first-of-its-kind London protest with dozens of attendees, a three-month campaign, and nearly a year of discussions with Mercy For Animals, Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, pledged to end the abhorrent practice of cutting the eyestalks of female shrimp in the company’s supply chain by 2027. By 2026, Tesco will also require their suppliers stop using ice slurries, where shrimp can suffer for hours, to stun the animals; instead, the company will transition to electric stunning for the approximate 95% of shrimp in their supply chain who can be effectively stunned this way. Poised to influence the entire seafood industry and set a new standard for other retailers, this groundbreaking policy marks a significant milestone for shrimp welfare. We are already seeing the ripple effects. Shortly after Tesco’s announcement, Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second-largest retailer, published their own shrimp and fish welfare policy. Sainsbury’s pledges to end routine mutilations, including cutting shrimps’ eyestalks and clipping off fishes’ fins. The retail giant also promised to refrain from selling live marine animals, avoid the use of hormones or antibiotics as growth promoters, minimize long-distance transportation, and reduce bycatch in wild-capture fisheries.
Influencing Climate Policy
Brazil
We made more strides in influencing Brazil’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) to be released in early 2025. The NDC is a federal policy that aims to address the global climate crisis by outlining Brazil’s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A major focus of Brazil’s upcoming NDC is to stop deforestation by 2030. Forest clearing emitted 1.19 billion tons of carbon in 2021 and is closely tied to the current food system. Of this carbon, .98 billion tons are the result of deforestation by the beef industry.
A coalition of advocacy groups drafted recommendations for the government. As one of few animal protection organizations involved, we expressed concern over the absence of recommendations to transform food systems. With other partner organizations, we swiftly drafted a science-based letter, and the coalition incorporated many of our recommendations, including a crucial call for food-system change.
Highlighting Transfarmation’s Impact in the New York Times
United States
We secured two prominent New York Times stories about Transfarmation™, which supports factory farmers in transitioning to plant-based agriculture. The first story features compelling photos of our new demonstration hub, showcasing a farm that once raised an estimated 540,000 chickens annually but is now a model for sustainable plant-based farming. In collaboration with farmers Tom and Sokchea Lim, we transformed their former chicken barn into a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot greenhouse that grows fruits and vegetables year-round.
The second story spotlights Tyler Whitley, director of Transfarmation, in an in-depth interview. Titled “Life After Factory Farming,” the article explores the profound impacts of transitioning from animal agriculture to sustainable plant production.
Inspiring a Test Kitchen for Plant-Based School Meals
Brazil
We hosted a workshop in Caruaru, Brazil, to further our partnership with the municipality, which is serving plant-based meals in schools once a week. The mayor organized a dedicated test kitchen for plant-based cooking training and recipe testing. This new kitchen, beautifully equipped with climate control and all necessary appliances, is adorned to reflect our program’s mission of promoting healthy plant-based meals.
Exposing a Dangerous New Factory-Farming Industry
United States
We released drone footage that exposes the severe environmental damage caused by dirty factory-farm gas, also known as “biogas.” This revealing video highlights the extensive use of biogas digesters in California’s factory dairy farms, showing how these systems could incentivize farm expansions and increase greenhouse gas emissions. The footage underscores the pressing need for federal funding to support transitions to plant-based farming rather than harmful practices. We are urging the USDA to redirect funds from the Inflation Reduction Act to bolster sustainable agricultural practices, not false climate solutions like biogas.
Banning Industrial Fishing Nets
Brazil
Globo Rural, a major Brazilian agribusiness media outlet, featured our inaugural investigation into the country’s fisheries industry. Supported by this investigation, we are calling for a ban on industrial trawling nets in Brazil’s territorial waters.
New Videos Produced This Month
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Eels commonly consumed by people are endangered!
✊ Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem, Oregon 📢
What is dietary racism?
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“What keeps me focused is to remember that we are their only hope.”
—Camilla, an undercover investigator in Brazil