The Farm System Reform Act

Stef hen at Farm Sanctuary

The Farm System Reform Act

We are getting closer to the end of factory farming.

Farm Sanctuary continues our work in a diverse coalition of organizations officially endorsing the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA) (HR 797 / S 271).

This common-sense legislation restricts the expansion and abuses of factory farms, which have been proven to harm animals, communities, and the environment.

Re-introduced by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), the FSRA aims to “crack down on monopolistic practices, invest billions in the transition to a more resilient food system, [and] place a moratorium on large factory farms.”

 

Why is the FSRA so important?

You may already know that nearly 10 billion animals are killed for human consumption each year in the U.S.—and of those, 99% are raised on factory farms. These industrial animal farms (also called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs) maximize profits not only at the expense of animals, but people and the environment, too.

Today, the system incentivizes farm operations to become bigger and more concentrated, leading to high stocking densities and unsanitary conditions for animals. CAFOs poison local water and air, which has been termed a “massive regulatory failure”. They also cause the death of more than 17,000 people living in the United States every year.

According to Senator Cory Booker:

Large, multinational meatpackers, because of their buying power and size, are putting our food system at risk and harming everyone along the supply chain. We need to fix the broken system—that means giving family farmers and ranchers a fair shot and holding corporate integrators responsible for the harm they are causing. We must immediately begin to transition to a more sustainable and humane system. An important first step is ending our reliance on huge factory farms and investing in a system that focuses on resilient and regenerative production.

Senator Cory Booker

If the FSRA passes, it means:

  • No new large factory farms or expansions of existing factory farms
  • Phasing out the largest factory farms by 2040
  • Leveling the playing field by making it easier for family farmers to compete against large corporations
  • Holding corporations responsible for pollution and other harms
  • $10 billion per year for 10 years for farmers to transition out of factory farming
  • Helping put an end to factory farming

Help put an end to factory farming

Pietro calf at Farm Sanctuary

Ready to take action to help farm animals and orient our food system towards justice? Tell your U.S. Representative and Senators to co-sponsor and support the Farm System Reform Act.

Take Action
Pietro calf at Farm Sanctuary