While 2023 has seen some remarkable wins for animals throughout the world, these successes have been coupled with enormous challenges – including broken promises from those in positions of power.

Our achievements have only been possible thanks to our supporters, who took no fewer than 23.2 million actions, giving farmed animals a voice and helping us expose the cruelty, environmental and social harm caused by factory farming in 2023.

From writing to politicians, and taking part in Twitter storms, to attending protests, fundraising, and spreading the word on social media, together we showed those in power that ending farm animal suffering isn’t just morally right but a global imperative.

As 2023 draws to a close, let’s look back at what we’ve achieved for farmed animals:

Ending live exports

The UK Government introduced a Bill to ban the export of live animals for fattening, as promised in its manifesto. New proposals were also brought forward by the EU to improve the welfare of animals in transit – although, sadly, they were simply not enough to end the suffering of the millions of animals who suffer cruel and unnecessary journeys every year.

Stopping octopus farming

As well as managing to close the USA’s only octopus farm in Hawaii, we continued to lead the charge against plans for the world’s first commercial octopus farm in the Canary Islands. We mobilised tens of thousands of our supporters to take action to thwart plans for this colossal octopus farm which threatens the wellbeing of these intelligent creatures.

Ending the Cage Age

World renowned conservationist and our Patron, Dr Jane Goodall, joined EU citizens and NGOs in urging the European Commission to keep its promise to introduce legislation to End the Cage Age. Actor Alan Cumming also presented a video in support of our campaign, which will continue until every cage is an empty cage.

Extinction or Regeneration Conference

Our major international conference in London brought together policy makers, business leaders, NGOs, farmers and scientists from across the globe to share solutions for how we can transform our broken food system. This landmark event was a huge success, reaching an estimate 2 billion people around the world through media coverage.

Ending factory farming

Our ground-breaking END.IT campaign calling on global leaders to end factory farming before it ends us has already gained over 300,000 signatures and secured high profile backing from Hollywood actors, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Steve Coogan and Eva Green.

Corporate commitments to improve welfare

We’re helping more and more companies commit to improving animal welfare and holding them to account for their pledges to move to more sustainable, resilient food systems. Over 2.5 billion animals are now set to benefit each year thanks to your backing for our corporate engagement team.

The power of words

This year also saw the launch of 3 books: Animal Welfare in World Religion: Teaching and Practice by our Ambassador Emeritus and former CEO, Joyce D’Silva; Roaming Wild: The Founding of Compassion in World Farming exploring the little-known inspiring story of our founders Anna and Peter Roberts MBE; and Cultivated Meat to Secure our Future co-edited by Michel Vandenbosch and our Global Chief Executive, Philip Lymbery.

Challenges Ahead

Building on these achievements, our big priorities for the year ahead include getting the European Commission to keep its promise to end cages, working to get the British ban on live exports over the line, and advocating for a ban on exports from the EU to non-EU countries.

We will also continue to persuade more companies to make cage-free policies, and galvanise support at the UN for an end to factory farming.

A huge thank you

Philip Lymbery, Our Global Chief Executive, said: “In the year ahead, we have many challenges but also opportunities, that need your support, not least ending cages in Europe. In 2021, following our European Citizen’s Initiative petition campaign, which gathered 1.4 million signatures, the European Commission committed to end the use of cages in animal farming by 2027. Sadly, this is so far a promise unfulfilled.

“One thing is for sure, we could never achieve as much as we do for animals, without the kindness and unwavering commitment of you, our supporters. It simply remains for me to wish you all a very happy and peaceful festive holiday. And thank you once again for continuing to help us strive for a more compassionate world.”

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