Compassion in World Farming

Yesterday at #COP29 we partnered with the Government of Pakistan, UN Environment Programme, GPNM, INMS, INI, UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad for a side event 'Sustainable nitrogen management: Collaborative solutions for climate action, environment and food security', held at the Pakistan pavilion.   Romina Khursheed Alam opened the event, welcoming the breadth of the speakers’ expertise and regionality, emphasising the importance of collaboration in finding solutions to nitrogen waste.   Speakers including Matsuzawa Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Government of Japan, Cristian Beseni, Secretary of State, Ministry for Environment, Waters and Forests, Government Romania, and Bruno Pozzi, Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division, UNEP shared examples of policies to promote sustainable nitrogen management at a national, regional and global level. Tariq Aziz shared the view from South Asia, a global hotspot for nitrogen emissions, emphasising that we will not achieve the targets of the Paris agreement and net zero without climate action on nitrogen.   Professor Mark Sutton, Director of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub projects stressed the importance of understanding the crucial role of fertiliser in agriculture and in ensuring food security, and therefore conveying a message of nitrogen waste reduction rather than fertiliser reduction. And that these will have monetary benefits. He spoke of 'nitro-finance', investing in measures that will ultimately save money, commenting, "It's not just about climate finance. Nitro-finance is an opportunity for countries to make a difference."   Our Global Head of International Affairs, Eirini Pitsilidi shared the work we have done alongside UNEP/ UNEA, the UN General Assembly 2nd Committee, FAO and in the UNFCCC, explaining why nitrogen management is so important for us as a farmed animal welfare and environmental NGO.   She commented that in order to get where we need to be on sustainable nitrogen management: “We need both immediate, tangible changes to achieve more efficient nitrogen use and nutrient recovery as well as longer-term, transformational changes that include both the obvious and the less obvious - including, for instance, indirect changes such as behavioural shifts related to our diets, especially in populations where we know we overconsume animals sourced foods"   She concluded by stressing the event’s title incorporating ‘collaborative solutions’, and called on governments, academics, the private sector, farmers, and other stakeholders to reach out to us in order to collectively best advance and coordinate sustainable nitrogen management in various global policy instruments. Arif Goheer wrapped up the discussion, thanking panellists and highlighting Pakistan's efforts in fostering global and national stakeholder engagement for sustainable nitrogen management.

Today is #WorldFisheriesDay 🐟 Did you know, each year, up to 2.2 TRILLION fishes suffer from inhumane capture and killing practices? It's arguably the largest cause of animal suffering in the world. In our recently published book, Regenerative Farming and Sustainable Diets, Natasha Boyland and Elena Lara have co-authored a chapter, 'Aquaculture must be part of the shift towards regenerative farming'. They share concerns around practices in commercial fisheries, as well as the growth in intensive fish farming, with its myriad welfare, environmental and sustainability threats. They make a case for an aquaculture system which refocuses on regenerative, high welfare farming of species that are low in the food chain and have a positive effect on the environment. Read the chapter here: https://lnkd.in/exA_SPgM

And it's a wrap! Our Global Manager of Food Systems Advocacy Federica di Leonardo and shares a quick round-up of our activity at #COP29 as she leaves the venue in Baku this evening 👇

"The spread of slurry from intensive animal agriculture has already contributed to widespread nitrogen pollution. It’s so bad in some places that protected areas are being damaged. It’s a deeply disturbing situation that has to stop. "Government departments must work together to support local communities and allow local councils to reject planning applications for new intensive animal farms. One way or another, failure to act will impact us all." - Philip Lymbery, Our Global CEO.

More than 51 million chickens are being industrially farmed in the river valleys of the Severn and Wye. It's not just the chickens who are suffering. More and more intensive farms are leading to more and more pollution. 51 million chickens create a lot of manure, which is spread on nearby fields, leading to agricultural runoff. This combines with sewage to create a toxic cocktail, poisoning rivers. Despite this, there are plans for more intensive farms! We shouldn't even be discussing the possibility, stopping them should be a no-brainer. View our interactive "muck map" to see how much slurry from factory farms is being spread in your local area and take action to stop the spread of factory farms ➡️ https://bit.ly/4fiS5s4 Read The Guardian article: https://bit.ly/3CAmvHS

Yesterday evening, at #COP29 we co-hosted an official UNFCCC side event with Brighter Green, Consumers International, ProVeg International World Animal Protection, From Field to Plate: Aligning food systems with climate and biodiversity goals.  The event, taking the form of a ‘fireside chat’ with moderators Stephanie Maw and Charlie Worthington explored the tangible and practical paths for global food systems transformation through policy, in order to meet climate, nature and biodiversity goals. Rachel Atcheson opened the session, sharing how New York City is addressing emissions from food by aligning public procurement with climate, sustainability and health goals. Salome Owuonda considered how policies targeting overconsumption of animal-sourced foods can free up land for agroecological practices, therefore positively impacting soil health, while Gisele Bortolini spoke on how policies around dietary shifts can be elevated through global government initiatives on the margins of COPs. Dr Freddie Kabango, Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture examined how agroecological principles can reshape food systems, support resilient diets, and foster food environments that respect planetary limits and social boundaries, with Angel Flores concluding with Asian perspectives on a just food transition and the role of healthy, sustainable diets.

Today at #COP29 in Baku, food, agriculture and water are on the agenda. Livestock produce more direct greenhouse gas emissions than planes, trains and cars, combined.  The evidence is clear: we can’t tackle climate change without changing our food system. Tell world leaders to end factory farming – for the sake of our planet. Sign the petition ✍️ https://bit.ly/3UTnf0Y  #EndIt

To mark World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness week we are calling on the UK Government to urgently close loopholes in antibiotic policy. New legislation introduced in May prohibits routine antibiotic use and bans using antibiotics to control diseases caused by inadequate animal husbandry and poor hygiene. However, as intensive-farming practices remain in place, it is highly likely that antibiotics are still being used for this purpose. Indeed, while there has been some commendable progress on reducing antibiotic use on UK farms with cuts of 59% over the past decade, the latest figures on the British pig industry are concerning. 📈 This is not the direction we should be moving in. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4eRL3K1

Harming animals is harming our planet. 85% of farmed animals in the UK are housed in industrial factory farms. Factory farming drives emissions from fossil fuel use, generates significant amounts of methane and causes widespread destruction of forests, grassland and other habitats to grow crops to feed industrially farmed animals. We need to move towards regenerative farming with diets rich in plants. 🌱 See Anthony Field's full quote in The Mirror: https://bit.ly/4fMnGCb

At #COP29 yesterday evening, at the Action On Food Hub, we co-hosted a side event 'Creating a vision for food system transformation – how do we get there?' with Changing Markets Foundation, FOUR PAWS, ProVeg International and World Animal Protection. The roundtable opened with Tamsin Blaxter, setting the scene on why there is an urgent need for a just transition to a healthy and sustainable global food system. Thayana Oliveira and Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl presented case studies from Brazil and Denmark respectively, showing what is possible when it comes to dietary shifts and reducing overreliance on animal protein in two very different contexts. Silvia Mantilla emphasised the importance of collaboration as well as sharing knowledge and real life experience. Moderator Aline Baroni then opened the floor for a lively and constructive discussion where participants reflected on what is needed to achieve food systems transformation and agreed that solutions must be context specific.