Written by: Guest | February 11, 2020
Casey Kinler
Communications Manager, Animal Agriculture Alliance
Most people can count the number of animal rights groups they know on one hand. If only that were how many actually exist. Not only are there hundreds of animal rights groups, but they are working together to make farming and ranching more difficult and cause distrust with your customers.
Animal agriculture became a target in the early 1980s when animal rights groups shifted their focus from animals used for research to animals used for food. The industry saw a need to have a group dedicated to monitoring this emerging threat and in 1987 the Animal Agriculture Alliance was formed. The American Feed Industry Association is a founding member of the Alliance – a nonprofit organization working to bridge the communication gap between farm and fork that connects the industry together, engages with food influencers and protects the industry against damaging misinformation spread by animal rights groups.
The Alliance monitors animal rights activist groups to keep its members informed and prepared for new tactics facing animal agriculture. Undercover videos, mass protests, ballot initiatives, lawsuits and pressuring restaurants and retailers are all tactics used against animal agriculture, with activist groups typically specializing in one or two. Mercy for Animals specializes in undercover videos, calling them the “lifeblood” of its organization. Animal Legal Defense Fund frequently sues brands, draining resources and damaging the reputation of companies selling meat, milk, poultry and eggs. Direct Action Everywhere shows up to farms with hundreds of activists, trespasses and steals animals on the way out. Like any team, each group has its strengths and skillsets and when they work together, they are able to pressure the food industry.
One of the Alliance’s popular resources is the Animal Rights Activist Groups Web. This resource illustrates how activist groups are connected through funding, project collaboration and flow of staff and volunteers. Some groups publicly represent themselves as moderate and others are more upfront about their radical views, however they are all connected with the same agenda of ending animal agriculture. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is often seen as a puppy-loving organization instead of an animal rights organization, but the web shows how HSUS is connected to Compassion Over Killing, Vegan Outreach, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Animal Liberation Front and other groups that are clearly vegan, animal rights groups. The Alliance’s group profiles also help members see how groups may change overtime. Just this year Compassion Over Killing changed its name to Animal Outlook, disguising itself as more moderate even though its core mission of taking animal protein off the plate remains unchanged.
Monitoring animal rights activism is important, but it is only part of the equation to ensure animal agriculture’s future is bright and successful. Animal welfare, antibiotic use, sustainability and nutrition are all hot issues the Alliance covers. When misinformation is so readily available, animal agriculture must speak with a united voice on these issues and engage with people outside of our industry to answer their questions. Everyone involved in animal agriculture has a role to play in bridging the communication gap between farm and fork. Are you ready to play your part?
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