The UK is home to 9.7 million hectares of permanent grassland – from the species-rich meadows of the Chilterns, to the pastures of the Welsh Valleys, and the rugged grazing lands of the Scottish Highlands. These landscapes have shaped our cultural identity and farming heritage for generations. And they still hold huge potential to support farming that’s rooted in nature, where animals play a positive role in ecosystems, biodiversity, and the production of healthy, sustainable food.
But this image is a far cry from the reality of how much of our meat and dairy is produced today – particularly when it comes to chickens, pigs and increasingly, dairy. Behind the scenes, industrial livestock production (ILP) has become the dominant model; in fact, 85% of farmed animals in the UK are now housed in confined, indoor systems, never to set foot in our abundant pastures. This shift has come at a cost – driving environmental harm, poor animal welfare, public health risks and the erosion of farmer autonomy, all while keeping the true price of production hidden from view.
Today, we’re launching We need to talk about industrial livestock production – the first set of publications in a multi-year workstream to shape and strengthen the Eating Better alliance’s action on ILP. This workstream is designed to amplify the work of alliance members already leading the charge, and to support shared advocacy for a shift away from ILP towards more sustainable, circular approaches to animal agriculture.
Why we’ve done this work
At the heart of this work is a simple belief: everyone should have access to nutritious, healthy and sustainable food – and that must not come at the cost of farmers, animals, or the planet. Right now, ILP stands in the way of this vision.
There’s growing concern about the rise of ILP in the UK, but the conversation often gets stuck at the farm gate. We hear terms like “intensive” or “factory farming”, but there’s no shared understanding of what they mean, or how they link to wider supply chains and the corporate forces shaping them. And that means farmers often end up shouldering the blame, when it’s the system itself that’s forcing industrialisation.
This is why we’ve developed a new definition of ILP, shaped through extensive consultation with alliance members, stakeholders and experts across health, farming, environment and animal welfare. The definition works across three levels – on-farm, in supply chains, and at a system level – offering a fuller picture of what ILP actually looks like, how it operates, and why it’s so difficult to shift.
Using this definition as a foundation and building off the work of our alliance members, we’ve built a clear and compelling case for change. The main report of this toolkit maps the many hidden costs of ILP, laying the groundwork for a more joined-up, system-focused approach to advocacy.
What’s in the toolkit?
At the centre of this work is the main report, We need to talk about industrial livestock production. It sets out our new definition of ILP and presents a clear, evidence-based case for change, drawing on alliance-wide research, insights and priorities.
To help bring this work to life, we’ve also created a practical toolkit. This includes:
Welsh versions available soon!
What’s next?
This report is just the beginning. In the coming months, Eating Better will be:
- Supporting alliance members to use the ILP definition in campaigns, advocacy and research
- Convening shared action and collaboration across the alliance
- Engaging the health sector to build broader understanding and support
- Developing the economic case for a just transition away from ILP
We will use this new resource to provide the clarity, evidence and shared language needed to take the work of the alliance further, together.