Explainer
How Do You Make Leather From Mushrooms?
Leather made from mushrooms is a cruelty-free and environmentally friendly alternative to animal hides, including cow and lamb.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
Explainer
How Does a Cattle Feedlot Work?
What is a feedlot? These large fenced-off areas of land house thousands of cattle as they gain weight before slaughter. But how do they work?
Food•7 min read
Explainer
Is Almond Milk Bad for the Environment?
Almond milk has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so. More and more Americans enjoy it in recipes or their coffee, or even straight from the carton. Yet…
Climate•6 min read
Explainer
How Much Water Does a Cow Need?
California may be out of its drought but millions of thirsty animals farmed in the west are still at risk. Just how much water does a cow drink anyway?
Climate•3 min read
Explainer
How Do Pesticides Work?
The U.S. uses around 1 billion pounds of conventional pesticides each year to control weeds, insects and other crop-damaging invaders. Pesticides are crucial for protecting crops but can also be…
Science•9 min read
Explainer
Whether It’s Grass-Fed or Grass-Finished, Beef Is Still a Problem
Consumers want to know the difference between grass-fed vs. grass-finished but research shows all beef is bad for the planet.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
Explainer: Is Octopus Farming Ethical?
A major seafood company is still moving ahead with its Canary Islands octopus farming operation despite ethical objections from researchers.
Aquaculture•10 min read
Explainer
What Is Climate-Smart Agriculture?
With over $3 billion allocated to climate-smart agriculture programs, some experts worry there's little agreement about what the term actually means.
Climate•11 min read
Explainer
What Is Sustainable Agriculture?
Sustainable agriculture prioritizes natural resources and healthy soils but because the label is not well-regulated, any farm can call itself "sustainable."
Food•10 min read
Explainer
What Is Agroecology?
Agroecology relies on traditional Indigenous farming knowledge to make farming more sustainable.
Food•6 min read
Explainer
Yes, Fur Farming Is Still Legal
61 percent of U.S. voters support a ban on fur farming — yet the $22 billion industry is still legal in the U.S. and much of the rest of the…
Food•12 min read
Explainer
How Do Factory Farms Use Antibiotics?
Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health threat responsible for 1.2 million deaths worldwide. A leading driver of this crisis? Antibiotic use on factory farms.
Health•8 min read
Explainer
What Are the Impacts of Dairy Goat Production?
Goat milk has become increasingly popular, yet most consumers are unaware of the environmental and animal welfare impacts of dairy goat production.
Food•5 min read
Explainer
Why Do We Call Them Broiler Chickens?
The poultry industry uses the term "broiler chickens" to describe birds farmed for meat. But where exactly does the term come from?
Food•9 min read
Explainer
What Does “Free-Range” Mean for the Animals?
You might think "free-range" meat comes from happy animals but in reality, the label is no guarantee the farm meets any animal welfare standards.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
What Is Grazing?
In animal agriculture, grazing is the practice of allowing animals to roam across land. Grazing allows animals to behave naturally but it also comes with many environmental downsides.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
Is Organic Food Better for You?
What makes a food "organic"? One survey found only 20 percent of respondents knew the answer.
Food•9 min read
Explainer
What Is a Food System?
Food systems refer to different ways societies organize the production and distribution of food. While some types put a strain on the planet, others have a smaller impact.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
What Is Animal Welfare?
Public opinion polls find strong levels of support for animal welfare laws aimed at improving the treatment of farm animals.
Law & Policy•9 min read
Explainer
How Many Cows Are Killed Each Year?
Almost 300 million cattle were slaughtered globally in 2020, despite research suggesting cows are capable of feeling pain and distress.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
Explainer: Why Is Beef Bad for the Planet?
It all comes down to burps and land.
Climate•6 min read
Explainer
Why Is Cattle Ranching Bad for the Environment?
Across the globe, cattle ranching is a leading cause of environmental damage, including high levels of water use, deforestation and methane emissions.
Climate•5 min read
Explainer
How Many Sharks Are Killed Each Year?
Around 100 million sharks are killed each year across the globe, often for their fins and cartilage.
Climate•7 min read
Explainer
Do Circuses Still Abuse Animals?
Though public opinion polls suggest most people do not support use of animals for circus entertainment, the practice continues unabated.
Entertainment•9 min read
Explainer
Join Sentient Media’s New Course: Social Media and Advocacy
In this course, you’ll learn everything from how to create a personal brand on social media to how to use platforms to create change in the animal protection movement.
Policy•2 min read
Explainer
What’s the Best Way to Measure Methane From Cattle Burps?
Methane stays in the atmosphere for around 12 years, which can make it a tricky gas to calculate.
Climate•4 min read
Explainer
What Exactly Is the Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet has taken the world by storm. But what is this diet and is it healthy?
Diet•8 min read
Explainer
How Much Time Do Cattle Spend on Feedlots?
U.S. cattle feedlots house over 13 million cattle annually, maximizing growth before slaughter.
Food•9 min read
Explainer
6 of the Worst Facts About Factory Farms
More than 21,000 factory farms raise and slaughter billions of livestock animals each year in the U.S.
Food•4 min read
Explainer
How Many Chickens Are Killed Each Year?
Over 8 billion chickens are killed each year by the food industry.
Food•7 min read
Explainer
Insect Farming: What Types of Bugs Are Farmed?
Each year, over a trillion insects are farmed for human consumption.
Food•10 min read
Explainer
12 Solutions to Climate Change
Here are 12 of the most effective ways to fix climate change. Everyone can help.
Climate•6 min read
Explainer
Methane Pollution: Why Is Methane Bad for the Environment?
Methane is responsible for 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times. Emissions sources include natural gas, landfills and cattle farming.
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
How 4 Leading Organizations Define a Sustainable Diet
Want to follow a sustainable diet? These 4 organizations each have their own definition, yet they all point towards eating more plants and less meat.
Diet•5 min read
Explainer
Why Is Dairy Farming Bad?
Dairy farming is the practice of raising animals such as cows, goats and buffalo to produce milk for human consumption.
Food•8 min read
Explainer
Explainer: What Is Animal Testing?
Vaccines, medications and cosmetics rely on animal testing even though the process is cruel, unreliable and often inaccurate.
Animal Testing•10 min read
Explainer
A Guide to Vegan Nutrition: How to Get the Nutrients You Need to Stay Healthy
If you're looking to try a vegan diet, read this guide first.
Health•14 min read
Explainer
What Is Land Use Change, and What Causes It?
Over the last few centuries, human activity has caused land use change on an unnatural scale.
Climate•8 min read
Explainer
Where Does Veal Come From?
In this explainer, we answer the question what is veal?
Food•11 min read
Explainer
What Is Speciesism?
Speciesism is the idea that only humans are worthy of moral consideration.
Science•9 min read
Explainer
How Much Does the U.S. Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
A breakdown of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by state, sector, year and type of gas.
Climate•9 min read
Explainer
What Are the Environmental Impacts of Oyster Farming?
Oyster farming produces few greenhouse gas emissions but that doesn't mean it's good for the planet.
Aquaculture•7 min read
Explainer
Is Aquaculture Good or Bad?
In 2015, more than 100 million metric tons of fish were produced from aquaculture operations.
Aquaculture•7 min read
Explainer
Aquafarming: What Is It and What Are Its Negative Effects?
Fish and other marine life are farmed in the billions, in the water-based equivalent of factory farming seen on land.
Aquaculture•8 min read
Explainer
Shrimp Farming: Is Farm-Raised Shrimp Bad for You?
Communities around the world have raised and captured shrimp for centuries. Recent decades and growing demand have given rise to intensive shrimp farming.
Aquaculture•8 min read
Explainer
Farmed Salmon: Is It Bad for You and the Environment?
70 percent of the world's salmon comes from farmed fish operations.
Aquaculture•8 min read
Explainer
What Is Mariculture and What Are Its Environmental Effects?
Mariculture refers to the farming of fish, plants and other animals in salt water for human consumption.
Aquaculture•8 min read
Explainer
How Much Does Animal Agriculture Contribute to Climate Change?
Animal agriculture is responsible for 16.5 percent of all global greenhouse emissions.
Climate•7 min read
Explainer
Commercial Fishing: What You Need to Know
The global commercial fishing industry is valued at $150 billion per year. Here's why it's wrecking the planet.
Food•12 min read
Explainer
What Is Factory Farming and Why Is it Bad?
The vast majority of farmed animals are raised on crowded factory farms that cause climate emissions and environmental pollution.
Food•11 min read
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