7 stories that shook the factory farming industry in January
- A Scottish report revealed widespread cruelty in the salmon industry, giving it one year to present a reform plan.
- In Spain, the Balearic Islands announced a ban on egg farms housing more than 160,000 hens.
- The Italian town of Gonzaga passed measures to ban new factory farms and limit the expansion of existing ones.
- A photograph from an Animal Equality investigation earned international recognition for exposing slaughterhouse cruelty in Spain.
- Animal Equality launched a campaign urging Germany’s new government to prioritize animal protection.
- Across the EU, Animal Equality joined a lawsuit to push for a 2026 ban on cages for farmed animals.
- Meanwhile, Love Veg introduced plant-based eating to a leading Mexican university while expanding its presence in the United States.
Pressure mounts on Scotland’s salmon industry
Scotland’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has released a scathing report of the salmon industry, intensifying scrutiny across the U.K.
Using evidence from Animal Equality, the report revealed widespread disease, lice outbreaks, and alarming death rates. The Committee has given the industry one year to present a plan addressing these issues
Animal Equality’s investigation releases–featured on outlets like the BBC–have exposed salmon industry cruelty for years. Advocates are now focused on halting the industry’s expansion.
For decades, the Scottish salmon industry has been wreaking havoc on farmed fish, wild animals, and our shared planet. This report shows that the industry is now on its knees. -Abigail Penny, UK Executive Director of Animal Equality
Spain bans giant egg farms in Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands–an autonomous region of Spain–has announced a ban on egg farms with more than 160,000 hens. This ruling is expected to be finalized by the Balearic Parliament within 30 days.
The decision comes after the Balearic government rejected plans for a farm in Mallorca–the region’s largest island–which would have confined 750,000 hens to cages. Public opposition halted the project, reflecting increasing concerns about extreme confinement in Spain.
Italian town targets factory farm expansion
The City Council of Gonzaga–a small town in northern Italy–has voted to ban new farms and stop existing farms from expanding. It will also prevent farms from switching animal species, such as replacing pigs with chickens. Because chickens are much smaller than pigs, switching species would allow far more animals to be confined in the same amount of space.
With fewer than 9,000 residents, Gonzaga is home to nearly 60,000 farmed animals—seven for every person. This reflects a larger trend in the region of Lombardy, where 10 million people live alongside more than 30 million farmed animals.
Award-winning photo exposes cruelty
Spanish photographer Aitor Garmendia won a bronze award at the Tokyo International Foto Awards for an image captured during a 2023 Animal Equality investigation. The photo shows a pig in a stunning box awaiting slaughter, while others hang bleeding in the background.
The image also earned an honorable mention at the Siena Awards and highlights the cruelty of improper stunning, which can leave pigs conscious during slaughter. Garmendia is recognized worldwide for documenting animal exploitation–including his 2018 series Slaughterhouse, which revealed conditions in 58 Mexican slaughterhouses.
Germany’s new government urged to act
Animal Equality has launched a campaign urging Germany’s next government to put animal protection on its political agenda.
In 2024, efforts to update the Animal Welfare Act stalled when the ruling coalition collapsed. No action was taken before the government’s term ended. The next government will determine if and how to address the issue, with public pressure playing a crucial role.
With 90% of Germans supporting stronger protections, Animal Equality’s petition calls on leaders to fulfill their constitutional duty to animals. Demonstrations are planned for the coming months.
EU faces legal push to ban cages
Animal Equality has joined a lawsuit by the Citizens’ Committee to End the Cage Age, demanding accountability from the European Commission. In 2021, the Commission promised to ban cages in the European Union by 2026. It failed to meet its 2023 deadline to create a plan.
Animal Equality is part of the End the Cage Age coalition in Italy and has worked for years to stop the use of cages. Backed by over 1.4 million people, it is the largest campaign of its kind.
Cages must be eliminated entirely, and the scientific community agrees. The European Commission’s official commitment must come before the interests of the food industry. -Matteo Cupi, Animal Equality’s President for Europe
The EU’s Court of Justice approved Animal Equality’s involvement in the lawsuit, allowing it to present evidence showing how delays harm animals. If the lawsuit succeeds, the Commission will be required to establish a clear timeline to ban cages. It will also be required to grant access to important documents.
Plant-based eating takes root in Mexico
In 2025, Animal Equality’s Love Veg program promoted plant-based eating at a top university in Mexico. Students at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana explored how plant-based choices benefit animals, the environment, and personal health.
This follows a successful 2024 for Love Veg in Mexico, which included 26 cooking workshops in Guadalajara’s community centers and universities. Participants learned to create plant-based dishes inspired by traditional Mexican flavors.
As Love Veg continues to thrive in Mexico, the U.S. program is bringing plant-based flavor, health, and compassion to homes across the country. Start your journey today with recipes that align with your values.
LIVE KINDLY
With rich emotional lives and unbreakable family bonds, farmed animals deserve to be protected.
You can build a kinder world by replacing animal food products with plant‑based ones.
