Farm vs Factory Web Activity

Directions: use the link to research the major difference between sustainable
farms and industrial agriculture. There are 3 sections: animals, crops, and food &
you. Be sure to fill in the boxes with relevant information. Do not copy every
word. https://farmvsfactory.org/index.php#ptsection-two

Animals

FARM FACTORY
Living Conditions Living Conditions
animals are raised outdoors on Animals are closely confined in
pasture crowded, stressful conditions, often in
their own waste.

Environmental Impacts Environmental Impacts

Sustainable farms raise only as many
animals as their land can support.
Antibiotic Use
Sustainable producers never use
artificial hormones or nontherapeutic
antibiotics
Animals on factory farms create vast
quantities of untreated manure This
waste is over-applied to surrounding
land, often polluting the air, water, and
soil.
Antibiotic Use
Approximately 70 percent of medically
important antibiotics sold in the US are
given to farm animals to try to manage
diseases caused by crowded, stressful
conditions.

Community Impacts Community Impacts

Sustainable farms safeguard the Factory farms damage the
environment, preserve wildlife environment, threaten public health
habitats, bolster local economies and and degrade surrounding communities
provide good jobs. by causing depopulation, lowered land

Animal Well-Being
Sustainable farms treat animals with
respect, protecting their health and
well-being.
Farm Management
Sustainable livestock farmers are able
to make their own choices about how
to raise their animals and manage their
farms.
Crops
FARM
Planting Practices
Sustainable farmers rotate between a
diversity of crops to promote healthy
ecosystems and reduce chemical use.
Pest Control
Sustainable farmers minimize or avoid the
use of hazardous pesticides by managing
pests and weeds through careful crop
selection, strategic planting, and other non-
chemical practices.
Fertilizer Use
values, and depressed local
economies.
Animal Well-Being
Animals in factory farms experience
high rates of illness and stress and are
often forced to undergo painful
procedures like de-beaking and tail
docking
Farm Management
Many factory farm owners are trapped
in abusive contracts with huge
corporations.
FACTORY
Planting Practices
their type of growing practice reduces
biodiversity, depletes the soil, makes crops
susceptible to disease, and increases reliance
on synthetic fertilizers and hazardous
pesticides.
Pest Control
Industrial producers rely on hazardous
pesticides to control weeds, fungi, insects,
and other pests.
Fertilizer Use
 Sustainable farmers build healthy, fertile soil Industrial crops are grown using synthetic
and provide nutrients to their crops from fertilizers, which require large amounts of
natural sources such as manure, cover crops, fossil fuels to produce.
and compost.

GMO Technology GMO Technology

Sustainable farmers avoid genetically Industrial producers often grow genetically
modified (GMO) crops, instead choosing seed modified (GMO) crops, which are paired with
varieties suitable to local growing conditions. greater herbicide use

Soil Health Soil Health

The same crops are often grown on wide
Sustainable farmers protect the soil by expanses of land year after year, leading to
rotating crops and avoiding pesticides and loss of soil nutrients.
other soil pollutants.

Food & You

FARM FACTORY
Nutrition Nutrition
the industrial food system overproduces
Farms produce healthy pasture-raised meats artificially cheap meat and unhealthful
that are economically and physically processed foods
accessible to all people.

Food Distribution Food Distribution

Sustainable farms help create strong local
and regional food systems, reducing the need
for long-distance transportation and intensive
processing.
Processing occurs in large centralized
facilities, requiring long-distance food
transportation.

Farm Workers Farm Workers

Sustainable farms treat workers with respect, The industrial food system relies on poorly
providing fair wages and safe working paid laborers who are often subjected to
conditions. unfair working conditions

Political Influence Political Influence

 sustainable agriculture enjoys ever-growing agribusiness benefits from huge government
public support as more people recognize its subsidies, while environmental, labor, food
benefits and seek healthful, responsibly labeling and food safety regulations remain
produced foods weak and poorly enforced.