What is Big Ag?
Welcome to a new podcast series, lifting the lid on factory farming and advertising
The Gag Big Ag campaign is calling for an end to advertising which promotes food from factory farming. But what is factory farming? Is that the same as industrial or intensive farming? What are the problems with this system? To explore this, and other thorny questions, the Gag Big Ag podcast launches today, delving into some of the major themes of the campaign, with some special guests.
For this first episode, to find out more about "Big Ag", or Big Animal Agriculture, Nicola Wilks of Adfree Cities spoke to Myrtle Gregory, Research and Policy Officer at Eating Better, a cross-sector alliance of over 70 organisations working on healthy and sustainable diets composed of less, and better, meat and dairy. The alliance involves partners from animal welfare, farming, health, climate, nature, conservation and food justice.
In their conversation, Myrtle explains the complexities of defining industrial animal farming, and why it’s important that we place more emphasis on the system, rather than solely on the farm. Eating Better’s work to define “Industrial Livestock Production” (ILP) captures the value chains, supply chains and the actions of the big companies who have so much power and control in this system which is designed to produce as much meat and dairy as possible, as cheaply as possible.
Myrtle discusses the inefficiencies and impacts of this system where pollution is not accounted for, and where these costs are passed on to the taxpayer. Myrtle explains that the effect on farming of this “race to the bottom” is catastrophic. Over 90% of farmers would farm more sustainably if they could - but it’s difficult for sustainable farmers to stay in business within the current system, where prices are kept so low and the drive is for production above all else.
What can be done? The good news is that most people are willing to reduce their consumption of meat - but there’s only so much we can do at a community or individual level, when better options are not available to so many people. Systems change is needed by the powerful actors: government, retailers, food service and investors - so that better options are available. And major barriers need to be challenged and removed - including Big Ag adverts - so that we can support better food for all.
You can also listen on Spotify