Regenerative agriculture presents animal welfare environmentalists with an opportunity to work with farmers and a market alternative to industrial animal agriculture. While there is not an agreed-upon universal definition of the term, we advocate for systems that:

Remove animals from cages and return them to the land.
Improve soil health and carbon sequestration through adaptive and rotational grazing on native grasslands.
Improve biodiversity and ecological health by embracing organic, polyculture farming, including minimizing soil disturbance.
Prioritize the well-being of farmers and farmworkers.

Currently, there is limited federal support for regenerative agriculture, but many policymakers recognize the economic and environmental benefits of this type of farming.

Ballot Initiatives and Factory Farming

Progress for farmed animals rarely comes from Washington, but rather, changes come at the state and local levels. During the 2024 election, three ballot initiatives related to factory farming were included on ballots. A ban on CAFOs in Berkley, California – this passed with a majority vote from residents. This is an important and symbolic win for farmed animals and the environment. A Ban on CAFOs in Sonoma County, and a ban on slaughterhouses in Denver did not get enough votes to pass. However, they proved to be an effective tool for engaging residents around the issue of factory farming.

We anticipate seeing more ballot initiatives like this in the coming years. While the EATS Act threatens to stop these local reforms, we will continue championing local solutions to food system reform.

At Compassion in World Farming, we believe that the fight for a better food system cannot be defined by elections. While federal policy can shape the landscape, the power of collective action, consumer choices, and local government initiative plays an equally significant role. The movement toward a kinder, more sustainable future for agriculture is ongoing and we remain committed to pushing for meaningful changes for animals, the environment, and people.

Take Action

Tell your member of Congress to oppose the EATS Act.

Support local farmers. Ask them questions about farm animal welfare and farming practices!

Learn what to look for on meat, dairy, and egg labels with our Learn the Labels guide.