Berkeley, California has become the first city in the United States to implement a ban on factory farms. Here’s why that matters.
On Election Day 2024, voters in Berkeley overwhelmingly voted to ban factory farming by supporting Measure DD—a historic moment for animal rights activists. World Animal Protection US was proud to be one of the many coalition members working across the country to help similar ballot measures this election season.
While Berkeley does not have factory farms, this measure not only establishes that the city is committed to animal and environmental protection, but that no animals will ever be forced to ensure the cruelties of factory farming within city or county limits.
Local grassroots campaigns such as these ballot initiatives and city-wide legislation can have a ripple effect throughout the country. For example, Berkeley was one of the first cities in the United States to ban the sale of new fur. California has since implemented the fur ban statewide, which went into effect last year.
New York City banned the use of wild animals in circuses, which contributed to the closing of Ringling Bros. in 2017 (returning without any animal acts in 2023) and the state-wide ban of elephants in circuses just a few months later. New York City also banned the sale of foie gras in 2019 and the sale of guinea pigs in 2023, with other localities across the country, such as Pittsburgh and Boston, introducing and passing legislation of their own. California officially banned foie gras from being served in restaurants and sold at retailers in 2020 (the ban was passed in 2004 but was delayed by legal challenges that were not upheld).
This is why it’s so important to be active for animals in your communities, as each piece of legislation that passes protecting animals can inspire other cities, states, and even entire countries to implement these changes.
One of the most important ballot measures for animals that has passed in the US to date is Prop 12 in California, which prohibits the sale of animal products using extreme confinement of mother pigs, calves raised for veal, or chickens. This includes animal products imported into the state.
World Animal Protection US was proud to support Prop 12 when it was introduced in 2018 and during its lengthy legal battle through the Supreme Court after industry resistance. (Animal agriculture receives $10.7 billion a year through subsidies from the federal government, which makes it one of the most powerful lobbies in the US. Thanks to your support, we were able to protect this ballot measure with our coalition partners.)
Factory farms, whether they exploit fur-bearing animals, aquatic animals, or farmed land animals, are the largest source of animal cruelty on the planet, and the public has had enough. In fact, a 2019 poll found that 43 percent of US voters support a ban on new factory farms.
That’s why Senator Cory Booker introduced the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA) in 2020 and re-introduced it in 2021, which would place a moratorium on building and expanding CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) throughout the country and phase out the largest ones by 2040.
Want to take action for animals? Urge your federal legislators to ban factory farming and co-sponsor the Farm System Reform Act (FSRA) today.