This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Take action to end factory farming and reduce meat and dairy consumption
In order to improve public health, combat climate change and reduce animal suffering, the Government should:
1. Commit to end factory farming, starting by phasing out existing ‘megafarms'.
2. Set a target of a 50% reduction in meat and dairy consumption by 2030 and impose taxes to achieve this.
More details
Factory farming can spread disease and cause animal suffering and is contributing to climate change, with over 37% of methane emissions originating from factory farming.
Meat and dairy consumption can also negatively impact human health, and WHO has classified processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 17 November 2020
Adopting best practice across all farming systems is crucial to delivering net zero. Stockmanship and good husbandry, in all sizes and systems of production, are key to ensuring high animal welfare.
Read the response in full
Factory farming
The Government promotes efficient, competitive farming, but does not seek to favour large or small-scale farms. There are a number of different farming systems in use within the UK and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable agriculture. Increasing the size of herds does not necessarily equate to lower animal health or welfare standards. All farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary medicines and environmental legislation. Stockmanship and high husbandry standards are key to ensuring high welfare standards for all farmed animals.
In the UK, we can be justly proud that we have amongst the highest standards of animal welfare in the world. We are developing an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway which will promote the production of healthier, higher welfare animals. Improving animal health underpins the welfare of farmed animals; reduces greenhouse gas emissions; slows the rise of anti-microbial resistance; better protects farmers and the public from the economic impacts of disease; and helps demonstrate a commitment to rising standards of animal health and welfare to our current and future trading partners across the world.
Meat and dairy consumption
The National Food Strategy independent review will advise the government on how we can best enable the food system to provide sustainable food and support healthy diets for everyone. Part One of the National Food Strategy was published on 29 July and contained seven recommendations covering financial support for children in low income families, governance on food vulnerability, and trade. A further report will follow in 2021, examining our food system as a whole, to ensure everyone has access to healthy, affordable food that is sustainably produced. We will be carefully considering the findings of this report and will be responding with a white paper within six months of the final publication.
As the first major economy to legislate for Net Zero by 2050, targeting greenhouse gases is a priority for this Government. We are clear that adapting best practice across all farming systems is a crucial part of this. The cornerstone of our new agricultural policy, the Environmental Land Management Scheme, will support farmers to deliver environmental public goods by paying them public money to do so. Additionally, measures in the Agriculture Bill, the National Food Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan will enable farmers to optimise sustainable food production and reduce emissions.
The government advocates for a healthy balanced diet, based on the national food model the Eatwell Guide. Meat and dairy can both be an important part of a balanced diet. We are also clear that our diets should include more fibre, fruit and vegetables.
We have already seen significant progress in cutting emissions but there is more to be done across the economy, including in agriculture. We will work with our fantastic farmers to do this, acknowledging that well managed livestock provides environmental benefits including biodiversity, protecting the character of the countryside and generating important income for rural communities. We should be proud of our high quality; high welfare UK produce which is recognised around the world.
Next year we will host COP26, where we will be seeking to secure international action on climate change and biodiversity loss. This will include emphasising the role of nature-based solutions, such as our work to tackle illegal deforestation and promote sustainable supply chains.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This is a revised response. The Petitions Committee requested a response which more directly addressed the request of the petition. You can find the original response towards the bottom of the petition page (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/330298)
Related activity
Tell MPs what you think about the Climate Assembly’s recommendations for net-zero emissions
MPs from six select committees of the House of Commons joined together to set up a citizens’ assembly on climate change to look at how the UK should reach its commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Climate Assembly UK brought together 108 people from across the UK. Together they were representative of the wider UK population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, where in the UK they live, whether they live in an urban or rural area, and how concerned they are about climate change.
They worked together to create recommendations to Government.
How can you help?
MPs want to know what you and your communities think about the recommendations made by the assembly.
Discuss these questions with your school, workplace, family or community group and submit a joint response. It’s a great opportunity to hear others’ views on these issues and to share the outcomes of your discussions with MPs.
Share your answers via this online survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/A464RU/
Please return your responses by Friday 20th November 2020.
Read more about the Assembly and its recommendations: https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/en/blog/tell-the-climate-assembly-what-your-group-thinks-about-their-recommendations/
Information provided in the survey will be used to inform the select committees’ ongoing work on net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
What is a Select Committee?
Select Committees are cross-party groups of MPs. They are independent of the Government.
Find out how Select Committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c
Original Government response
Adopting best practice across all farming systems is crucial to delivering net zero. Stockmanship and good husbandry, whatever size and system of production, is key to ensuring good animal welfare.
As the first major economy to legislate for Net Zero by 2050, targeting greenhouse gases is a priority for this Government. We are clear that adapting best practice across all farming systems is a crucial part of this. The cornerstone of our new agricultural policy, the Environmental Land Management Scheme, will support farmers to deliver environmental public goods by paying them public money to do so. Additionally, measures in the Agriculture Bill, the National Food Strategy and the 25 Year Environment Plan will all enable farmers to optimise sustainable good production and reduce emissions.
In the UK, we can be justly proud that we have amongst the highest standards of animal welfare in the world. We are developing an Animal Health and Welfare Pathway which will promote the production of healthier, higher welfare animals. Improving animal health underpins the welfare of farmed animals; reduces greenhouse gas emissions; slows the rise of anti-microbial resistance; better protects farmers and the public from the economic impacts of disease; and helps demonstrate a commitment to rising standards of animal health and welfare to our current and future trading partners across the world.
All farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on animal health and welfare, planning, veterinary medicines and environmental legislation. Stockmanship and high husbandry standards are key to ensuring high welfare standards for all farmed animals.
The government advocates for a healthy balanced diet, based on the national food model the Eatwell Guide. Meat and dairy can both be an important part of a balanced diet,. We are also clear that our diets should include more fibre, fruit and vegetables.
We have already seen significant progress in cutting emissions but there is more to be done across the economy, including in agriculture. We will work with our fantastic farmers to do this, acknowledging that well managed livestock provides environmental benefits including biodiversity, protecting the character of the countryside and generating important income for rural communities. We should be proud of our high quality, high welfare UK produce which is recognised around the world.
Next year we will host COP26, where we will be seeking to secure international action on climate change and biodiversity loss. This will include emphasising the role of nature-based solutions, such as our work to tackle illegal deforestation and promote sustainable supply chains.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
This response was given on 5 October 2020. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.
MPs to debate the Final Report of Climate Assembly UK on the path to net zero
MPs will debate the Final Report of Climate Assembly UK on the path to net zero this Thursday 26 November in the main House of Commons Chamber. The subject of the debate has been determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
This will be a debate on a motion proposed by Darren Jones MP, on which Members may vote at the end of the debate. It calls for the Government to take note of the recommendations of the Assembly as it develops the policies necessary to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2050.
The debate will start at around 11.00am, following the Business Statement and questions to the Leader of the House.
Watch here this Thursday: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/4a97645c-8b6c-4ccc-a267-b564dfeab638
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Find out more about the Backbench Business Committee: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/202/backbench-business-committee/