Measuring Our Impact
The impact Mercy For Animals creates is possible thanks to our passionate supporters. Their dedication has always been the driving force behind our efforts to build a more compassionate world for farmed animals.
Every success, milestone, and life impacted proves the power of our collective action. Our supporters are the heart of our mission and make it achievable.
Alleviate Suffering
We fight to end industrial animal agriculture altogether. But we also recognize the power we hold to alleviate suffering on a massive scale for animals doomed to life in our existing food system.
Our current focus is protecting chickens, as they account for about 90% of land animals slaughtered for food worldwide. Over our 25-year history, in addition to helping these birds, we have secured protections for pigs, cows, fish, shrimp, and other farmed animals.
Animals Impacted by Corporate Welfare Policies
Working with food companies worldwide, we secure time-bound commitments to ending the worst cruelty in their supply chains. We ensure these commitments are met, following up with companies, publishing their progress in scorecards and other ranking reports, and launching public-pressure campaigns when necessary.
The true impact of a company policy is felt only when the animals it covers are living better for it—when a hen can spread her wings or a chicken raised for meat can stand up and walk without pain. That’s why we aim to move companies from the commitment stage through full implementation. Because a company is in only one stage at a time, we estimate the total animal impact of our committed companies by stage.
Committed
A company has published a time-bound animal welfare policy within the previous 10 years. We estimate how many animals will be impacted per year once the policy is fully implemented.
Committed Companies
363
Projected Animal Impact
10 billion
Reforming
The company has begun making supply-chain changes in line with its policy. At this stage we estimate how many animals are living better because of one or more implemented reforms.
Reforming Companies
156
Realized Animal Impact*
630 million
Implemented
The company has fulfilled its animal welfare policy, and all animals in its supply chain are spared the worst cruelty. Our animal impact estimate reflects how many animals per year are living better because of the implemented policy.
Implemented Policies
64
Realized Animal Impact*
9 million
* “Realized Animal Impact” refers to animals currently benefiting from an implemented reform, but the associated figure is still an estimate.
Animals Impacted by Government Policies
Very few laws protect farmed animals, even though they deserve protection from cruelty and abuse. Mercy For Animals helps secure local, state, federal, and international laws and policies that alleviate farmed animal suffering.
Passing a government policy can take years and involves building relationships, supporting legislative drafts, securing sponsors, and rallying support.
Legislation Introduced
Securing the introduction of legislation in a council, committee, chamber of Congress, or state legislature is itself a significant milestone. At this stage we estimate how many animals per year will be impacted if the legislation is enacted.
Legislative Measures
Introduced
31
Projected Animal Impact
148 million
Legislation Implemented
The last step is implementing the legislation by establishing actionable regulations, allocating necessary resources, and creating any required administrative structures. Factory farms are often given a deadline for compliance with animal welfare laws. As farms fully implement the required changes, we estimate how many animals are living better because of it.
Enacted Measures Implemented
28
Realized Animal Impact*
48+ million
Legislation Defeated
We are instrumental not only in securing stronger government protections for farmed animals but in defeating legislation that would undermine these protections, cause greater harm to animals, or punish whistleblowers.
Dangerous Measures Defeated
22
Drive Down Demand
We also strive to create a world where compassion, sustainability, and innovation come together on every plate. By partnering with leading food companies, schools, and institutions, we are transforming the food landscape, making delicious and nutritious plant-based versions of meat, dairy, and eggs more accessible, affordable, and irresistible.
100+
Government Food Contracts Shifted Toward Plant-Based Foods
17,000+
Coffee Shops Serving Plant-Based Drinks by Default
30,000+
Restaurants, Coffee Shops, and Schools with New Plant-Based Menu Items
40 million
Plant-Based Meals Served in Schools
872+
Schools Serving Only Plant-Based Meals at Least One Day a Week
Shift Narratives
Through compelling popular campaigns, we tell the truth about factory farming, cultivating empathy for farmed animals and mobilizing institutions and individuals to take action. A larger and more engaged supporter base translates to greater funding, more political influence, and accelerated progress in achieving our mission. We measure the impact of this work by tracking how many supporters have become passionate active advocates.
We also empower farmers—who have been the heart of food production for generations—to join us in challenging factory farming’s dominance and organizing to break free from it and eventually replace it. Through our Transfarmation Project, these farmers are transitioning their industrial animal facilities into spaces for growing fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, hemp, flowers, and other specialty crops.
Additionally, our Transfarmation program makes an incalculable yet major impact for animals through farmer stories—of resilience, innovation, and success in the plant-based market. Through television, news articles, blog posts, and podcasts, these stories are reshaping the public narrative about factory farming, showing the world that a kinder, more sustainable food system isn’t a dream; it’s already becoming a reality.
15
Farms Supported by Transfarmation to Exit Factory Farming
144
Media Hits
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