From toxic air pollution to unsafe drinking water and biohazards to antimicrobial resistance, the consequences of intensive factory farming on human health and the stability of our societies are increasingly severe. Across Europe, the growth of factory farms, particularly affecting rural areas, is not only condemning billions of animals to extreme and needless suffering; it is also having a devastating cost on people's health, lives and livelihoods.
Families and communities living near factory farming installations face significant health risks - e.g. respiratory disease from high and poorly regulated levels of air pollution. The devastation of nature and the contamination of water bodies from high concentrations of nutrients from intensive animal agriculture, alongside intolerable smells, are also taking a financial toll on these communities, with many even reporting a devaluation of property.
The crowded and unhygienic conditions animals are forced to endure on factory farms make them a breeding ground for pathogens. This greatly increases the risks of zoonotic disease transmission – when viral infections spread from animals to people and then advance through human populations. Improving animal welfare on Europe's farms is therefore crucial for preventing the next pandemic and safeguarding public health.
Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain
