The need for a global agreement on sustainable agriculture

Every day there is increasing evidence of the urgent need to do things differently and move towards a healthy, sustainable, humane food and farming system. A substantial proportion of the world’s sustainability and health challenges arise from industrial livestock production and its use of huge quantities of cereals and soy as animal feed. Deforestation, land use change, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, water overuse and pollution, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are some of the consequences of the current farming and food system that will make it impossible to meet the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Compassion has conducted extensive research suggesting an approach that will help shift to a more sustainable food and farming system for people, the environment and the biodiversity on which our future depends; a flourishing food and farming system without the cruelty of intensive animal farming.

In July 2018 our Chief Executive, Philip Lymbery, took this message to the UN’s Economic and Social Council in New York calling for a Global Agreement that will promote the development of cohesive food and farming policies and will tackle problems that are global in their reach to help create a sustainable future for all.

In March 2019 Philip addressed the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s most significant environmental decision-making body, at the Fourth Session of the Assembly, which attracted governments and global leaders from around the world. You can follow Philip’s work to end factory farming at @ciwf, @philip_ciwf, and https://philiplymbery.com/philips-blog/.

Compassion’s call for a Global Agreement to end industrial agriculture

Scientific research indicates that fundamental changes in the way we produce and consume food are essential if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and meet the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Additionally, without a far-reaching rethink of our food and farming system it will be impossible to halt the devastating impact of current food production practices on human health, food security, rural livelihood in the poorest countries, endangered species, and animal health and welfare.In July 2018 our Chief Executive took this message to the UN’s Economic and Social Council in New York calling for a Global Agreement that will promote the development of cohesive food and farming policies and will tackle problems that are global in their reach to help create a sustainable future for all.

We’re hoping to bring together others who believe that the time for co-ordinated global action towards a regenerative agricultural system has come. Together we can stop the devastating machine of factory farming.