Open Philanthropy farm animal welfare research newsletter

The Open Philanthropy farm animal welfare research newsletter focuses on strategies and developments aimed at improving the lives of factory farmed animals. It covers legal victories, advocacy successes, challenges in implementing animal welfare laws, the societal disconnect in animal treatment, and innovations in alternative proteins and AI, alongside threats to animal welfare reforms.

Legal Advocacy for Animal Welfare Corporate Animal Welfare Campaigns Policy and Legislation Societal Attitudes towards Animals Alternative Proteins Artificial Intelligence and Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Reforms in Europe Public Engagement and Media Strategies

The hottest Substack posts of Open Philanthropy farm animal welfare research newsletter

And their main takeaways

This is why we can’t have nice laws

799 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Animal Rights Legislation Advocacy Policy Influence
  1. Many people support farm animal welfare laws, but politicians often fail to pass them due to strong opposition from factory farmers and their powerful lobbying efforts.
  2. Advocates have been successful in passing farm animal welfare laws through citizens' initiatives, cross-party support, compromise, and engaging with political candidates and parties.
  3. The farm lobby, with its wealth, government subsidies, and strong influence on politicians, poses a significant challenge to the progress of farm animal welfare laws.

A year of wins for farmed animals

859 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Animal Rights Sustainability Government regulations
  1. Advocates for farmed animals achieved major wins in 2023, such as eliminating cages for hens and broiler chickens globally.
  2. Corporate pledges to go cage-free have seen significant implementation rates, resulting in millions of animals being freed from cages.
  3. Policy advancements include the world's first state plan for plant-based eating, increased support for alternative proteins, and improved welfare standards for various animals.

We Love Animals. Why Do We Torture Them?

799 implied HN points • 18 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Animal Welfare Animal Rights Advocacy
  1. People love animals and express it through care and societal norms, yet they allow significant animal abuse to occur, especially in industries like factory farming.
  2. There's a disconnect in how we treat different animals - from pets to those used for food or research - despite recognizing their sentience and importance.
  3. Many individuals remain unaware or apathetic about the mistreatment of animals, often due to lack of information, societal norms, and the inconvenience of changing habits.

A Big Supreme Court Win for Farm Animals

919 implied HN points • 12 May 23
  1. The US Supreme Court upheld California's Proposition 12, a law benefiting farm animals, with a 5-4 vote, sending a strong message against cruel methods of production.
  2. The ruling not only supports better treatment for pigs but also sets a precedent for state bans on cruelly produced goods like caged eggs and fur, impacting the future of animal welfare laws.
  3. This legal win emphasizes that advocacy efforts can lead to positive changes for factory farmed animals, showing the impact of dedicated advocates and donors.
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What could AI mean for animals?

499 implied HN points • 16 Nov 23
🕹 Technology AI Alternatives Ethics Advocacy Sentience
  1. Artificial intelligence advancements have the potential to revolutionize the future of farmed animals, presenting both optimistic and pessimistic outcomes.
  2. AI is being explored to create alternative protein products and improve animal welfare through various applications like distress call monitoring and sensor technology.
  3. There is uncertainty on how AI will impact animals in the long run, with scenarios ranging from ending factory farming to potential exploitation of sentient AIs, urging for considerations of animal ethics in AI development and advocacy efforts.

What happened to plant-based meat?

559 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Consumer Trends Market Analysis Industry challenges
  1. Plant-based meat saw a surge in popularity, but now faces stagnation and challenges, being labeled as a 'fad.'
  2. Consumer reception of plant-based meat is influenced by factors like price, taste, and health perceptions.
  3. To revive growth in the plant-based meat industry, innovation, patient investors, and positive media attention emphasizing benefits are crucial.

How can we get the world to talk about factory farming?

6 HN points • 27 Jun 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Animal Welfare Media Influencers Narrative Advocacy
  1. Silence favors the status quo, making it vital to bring attention to issues like factory farming to create change.
  2. Media coverage of factory farming has not grown significantly, highlighting the need for innovative tactics to increase visibility.
  3. Engaging influencers, providing credible data, and focusing on newsworthy angles can help spark conversations about factory farming.

Coming soon

0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Animal Welfare
  1. The post is about a newsletter on farm animal welfare research by Lewis Bollard.
  2. The newsletter is yet to be launched, as indicated by the phrase 'Coming soon.'
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe to stay updated on farm animal welfare topics.