Riccardo Liguori Berkeley, California, voted to ban factory farming, becoming the first US city to do so. An epochal decision for animal welfare and environmental sustainability
Berkeley has made a pioneering stride towards a greener future. The Californian city has just passed the status of being the very first city in the United States to ban what is popularly known as factory farms, officially called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, with the passage of Measure DD.
A ban like no other, and the role of Measure DD
Measure DD is a citizen-driven ordinance that disallows construction and operation of new CAFOs within the city limits. This is a kind of industrial facility that keeps cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals tightly confined, mostly indoors, their whole lives. The measure was passed with more than 60% of all votes and represents perhaps a turning point for the protection of animals and the local ecosystem.
Although there are presently no active CAFOs within Berkeley, the last such site—a racetrack known as Golden Gate Fields—closed in June 2024 after years of outrage and protests over horse deaths during races. Even with this closure, citizens and environmental groups pushed for the measure to ensure that the city will keep free from future factory farming operations.
Factory farming tends to have very intensive levels of production
The CAFOs epitomize the most extreme cases of industrial farming, where 99% of farm animals are being accommodated within the United States. Such space, often referred to as a factory, prioritizes profit over the welfare of animals by crowding them into areas that inhibit them from exhibiting their natural behaviors. Life in a CAFO is very stressful, having treatments solely for maximum productivity.
Apart from the ethical issues, CAFOs are also a severe threat to environmental health. The huge amount of waste generated leads to water pollution and significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. This practice also spreads diseases among people, such as avian influenza.
Activist community voices
The Measure DD campaign was run by a number of groups, including Direct Action Everywhere and Compassionate Bay. Almira Tanner, a resident of Berkeley, and leading member of DxE immediately released the following statement:
“The residents of Berkeley have just taken a historic stand for animals and for the planet we all share. If we don’t act quickly to curb the major drivers of climate change, like factory farming, the consequences will worsen“.
Activists hope Berkeley’s decision may encourage other cities to do the same in favor of a more ethical and environmentally friendly model of agriculture. Measure DD provides a substantial precedent that can inspire similar efforts elsewhere in the country.
Looking ahead
The vote won’t be finally certified until December 2024, but a way forward has been defined.
The farm animal protection movement achieved an important victory: a ban on factory farming. It is also one of the largest single steps taken to address climate change and protect community health. Perhaps this Berkeley decision will be the spark that ignites a whole new approach in America to farming and consuming food.
Berkeley has opened the door to a new era of environmental and ethical awareness. Whether this bold act of leadership will trigger wider change only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the seeds of transformation have been sown.
