Factory Farming

Lets get the facts straight!

What did you have for supper last night?

Why did you choose to eat what you did?

Where did the food come from?

Some possible reasons…It was fast or easyIt was what I usually eatIt was nutritious It tasted goodIt was a good priceIt was in seasonMy friends liked itI did not have any choice in what I ate

The Meatrix launched in November 2003Has been translated into more than 30 languages

Over 15 million viewers worldwide

The Factory FarmA factory farm is a large-scale industrial operation that houses thousands of animals raised for food—such as chickens, turkeys, cows, and pigs—and treats them with hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease and maximize their growth and food output.The premise for factory farming is that we need to produce food more efficiently to feed 7 billion people!

The Three Pillars of Sustainability

Social PillarNew diseasesPathogensDangerous hormonesUnethical treatment of animals

Confinement Mutilation diseases due to stress

Economic PillarThreats to family farms

Unfair competitionRegulations farmers lose jobs and livelihoodsless people to look after the land,

Lower property values“Cost” and convenience of meat

Environmental Pillar

Animal WasteAir EmissionsEcosystem DamageDestruction of Land

Alter-ego PerspectiveFive Groups

1. Chicken2. Chicken Farmers3. President of the Poultry Company 4. Chicken Consumer5. Chicken Farm Worker

Write one statement that you think your character would say in reference to factory farming.

Discussion Question

If we are in consensus that even food animals deserve to have a certain quality of life, who has the responsibility to oversee the

treatment of chickens or other food animals?

What responsibility do individuals and consumers have? The government? Companies?

Discussion Question

In a way, we’re not producing chickens, we’re producing foodRichard Lobb, of the National Chicken Council, in Food Inc.

What does this statement mean? Do you agree or disagree?

How might this perspective affect the way that chickens are raised?

Old McDonalds Farm

Resources11 facts about Factory FarmsFactory Farms/What’s good about itFactory Farming…Winners and LosersWhat are the pros and cons of Factory FarmsPrimary Kids – Factory FarmingFactory Farming IndexFactory Farm FactsSustainable TableBeyond Factory Farming CEC ManitobaFood Inc. Discussion GuideThe Meatrix