We're building a farmer-led movement to end industrial animal agriculture by creating the resources to transition out of factory farming.
Transfarmation does this by helping farmers transition from industrial animal agriculture operations to raising crops for human consumption. By creating models of alternative economic opportunities, building solidarity with other movements, and shifting societal narratives to change culture, we will realize a just and sustainable food system.
It’s been a long path.
The hardest thing at first was just to get people to realize that change is possible. My family wanted to get out of hog farming, but that was essentially their retirement fund. Thirty years of doing something every day—it’s hard to even imagine the possibility of doing something else. Something drastically different. So it seems to be going against the grain, which seems intimidating.
Then I met The Transfarmation Project, and they’ve been just an amazing, amazing help. They’ve linked me with different experts and consultants, but then, also—just to have people that you could talk to about this project, that are excited, that are: “Yes, let’s do this! This is great!” Just that attitude: “Yes, that’s great. I love what you’re doing. You’re not crazy. Keep going!” Because that can be really helpful, because ... you’re grinding this out while you’re still working on the farm.
Over the past few decades, consumers have become increasingly aware of the environmental and animal welfare concerns associated with industrial agriculture. But most people are unaware of the exploitation farmers themselves often endure.
Most farmers who raise chickens do so on a contract basis for major meat companies. But many farmers consider themselves indentured servants in these relationships. They take on massive debt, often struggle to pay it off, and have little to no control over their operations. They fall into the “debt treadmill” of chicken farming: an endless loop of paying off loans they take on to make improvements to their chicken houses. Christopher Leonard, author of The Meat Racket and former Associated Press agriculture reporter, said that farmers “end up taking orders from a big company like Tyson Foods in the same way a serf might be tied to a lord many, many years ago.” To learn more about contract farming and the broader economic structure of animal agriculture in the United States, please review Transfarmation’s detailed fact sheets:
Numerous contract poultry farmers have blown the whistle to expose how the system harms farmers, animals, and consumers. One such pioneer is Craig Watts, who was profiled in the New York Times after he blew the whistle with Leah Garcés, now president of Mercy For Animals.
The plant-based food industry is expected to be worth $85 billion by 2030. To get there, plant-based food producers will need a reliable source of key ingredients, such as peas, mushrooms, oats, and greens. Similarly, the demand for hemp as food, textile fiber, and medicine is growing. Transfarmation partners with farmers to help them transition to plant production and then connects them with businesses in need of their products. It’s a true win-win—for farmers and their families, for consumers, for animals, and for the planet.
We know that helping farmers transition from animal agriculture alone won’t transform our food system. That’s why Transfarmation also catalyzes larger-scale shifts through powerful storytelling, policy change, and a broad network of organizations and individuals working to build a more just and sustainable food system.
For policymakers, Transfarmation is an opportunity to shift state and federal funding, programs, and other resources toward helping farmers transition to plant-focused agriculture. The Transfarmation team partners with policymakers who are passionate about improving the lives and livelihoods of farmers and communities in their districts. A primer for policymakers is available here.
The farm bill is a major legislation package that impacts farmers across the country and our nation’s approach to food production and distribution. It also addresses conservation, nutrition, rural development, and other important matters. You can read our farm bill platform here.
Success stories—and the lessons learned—will inspire other farmers to follow suit, so even farmers not formally affiliated with our program will benefit as they pursue their own transitions. Ultimately, we hope Transfarmation will also help new farmers avoid animal agriculture altogether by highlighting other ways to support their families and communities on the land.
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