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Leah Garcés, president and CEO of Mercy for Animals, has been known for her long-standing fight against the industrial farming industry as an animal rights advocate. However, her approach changed the day she met Craig Watts, a former contract chicken farmer who represented everything Garcés stood against. Yet, having experienced firsthand how the factory farm system mistreats farmers, Watts emerged as an unexpected ally for Garcés.

Over the years following their initial meeting, a joint initiative called the Transfarmation Project was established, which now helps former contract farmers transition away from industrial farming to sustainable agriculture.

In her new book, “Transfarmation: The Movement to Free Us from Factory Farming,” Garcés adopts a holistic approach while framing industrial animal agriculture. She not only details animal rights violations but also explores how factory farms create unacceptable living and working conditions for people. Garcés takes the reader on a journey through regions like North Carolina, Iowa, Texas, and more, revealing the harsh realities faced by animals and workers in slaughterhouses, as well as the inevitable presence of pig waste in homes near pig farms.

In this book, Garcés illustrates that creating a more sustainable food system cannot be fragmented; it requires a comprehensive perspective on the well-being of various communities across the country.

When asked about the importance of initiating the Transfarmation Project to aid former contract farmers in exiting industrial animal agriculture, Garcés responds, “I have been an activist working to end factory farming for over twenty-five years and realized that while we talk extensively about the problem and the solutions, we often forget the pathway between the two. I rolled up my sleeves to create easier pathways for farmers. I do not claim that a small nonprofit can help thousands of farmers transition to this system, but I wanted to create prototypes and demonstrations. We know that farmers want to transition, and we are learning how farm owners can make that change.”

Furthermore, Garcés highlights that the farm animal industry predominantly builds CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) in communities of color. One of her focus areas is the prevalence of pig CAFOs in predominantly Black populations in eastern North Carolina, noting the industry’s significant impact on local politics and legislation. She emphasizes the need for residents to understand how CAFOs affect neighboring communities and how they organize against such practices.

During her visits to these communities, Garcés learned about the realities faced by residents who claim the presence of pig waste in their backyards. “We must remember that this occurs across Black communities nationwide. If you sprayed pig waste next to a white suburban home, there would be immediate repercussions. The reason this does not happen in these communities is that they hold less political, social, and economic power.”

Garcés highlights the inspiring stories of individuals like René and Rosemary, who are fighting back against the industry to protect their property, economic mobility, and power. “Meeting these women, who are battling the pig industry, was incredibly inspiring.”

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Source: Tarım Haberleri