Labour's new agriculture plans threaten to intensify factory farming crisis in the UK

Instead of supporting progressive, humane farming methods, the proposals focus on intensifying production and making it easier for farmers to build larger sheds to house thousands of chickens. 

This change to the planning regulations will likely result in an increase in factory farming mega-sites, where millions of animals live will live in unimaginably cruel conditions. Already, chicken farms across the UK are polluting rivers, killing wildlife, and threatening water quality. Expanding this damaging system is a step in the wrong direction.

Factory farming is a cruel and unsustainable model 

Factory farming is synonymous with suffering. Animals are confined in cramped, unnatural conditions that deprive them of basic freedoms. Millions of chickens, pigs, and cows endure short, miserable lives, as highlighted in our confined in cruelty report.

Local farmers responding to plans to build one of Europe’s largest livestock farms in Norfolk have voiced fears about biosecurity risks and the impact of megafarms on smaller agricultural operations. Intensive farms can act as breeding grounds for diseases, posing risks to nearby livestock. Farmers also argue that such projects destabilise traditional farming practices, squeezing small-scale operations out of the market.  

Lindsay Duncan, UK Farming Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection said:

“It’s really disappointing to hear Steve Reed’s announcement which makes it easier for cruel and environmentally destructive chicken factory farms to expand on our countryside. 

Millions more chickens will be crammed into spaces less than the size of an A4 piece of paper. They are bred to grow so quickly they are unable to support their own bodyweight. This is a massive step backward for UK farming and goes against the government’s pledges to support our environment. 

The government must move away from supporting cruel factory farms and instead support high-welfare farming that benefits farmers, animals and the environment.”

Environmental devastation and public health risks

The environmental fallout from these plans could be catastrophic. Factory farms already produce huge amounts of waste, which leaches into rivers, harming wildlife and ecosystems. The Wye Valley in Wales is Increased farming intensity also risks exacerbating climate change, with factory farming being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions

Meanwhile, overuse of antibiotics in intensive farming is driving the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), posing a global health threat. Antibiotic-resistant superbugs were found in rivers and waterways in areas with high levels of factory farming in Sussex, Norfolk and the Wye Valley.

A better path is possible but the government needs to support it 

There is a better way. Regenerative farming offers a humane and sustainable alternative to factory farming. Regenerative practices prioritize animal welfare, reduce emissions, and restore ecosystems by working in harmony with nature. Farms like Romshed Regenerative Farm demonstrate that ethical and sustainable farming can thrive. 

Rather than doubling down on harmful practices, the government should encourage more sustainable farming and other innovative approaches that safeguard animals, people, and the planet. 

Take action and say NO to factory farming 

This is a pivotal moment in the fight against factory farming. We must demand better for animals, the environment, and public health. The evidence is clear – there is simply no future for factory farming.

Sign the petition now