Ethical Issues in Intensive Factory Farming

Polina Sergeeva

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

In response to an ever-growing demand for meat, its production has increased too. Industrial animal farming provides us with plenty of affordable meat products due to the high efficiency of production. However, intensive factory farming brings up some ethical questions regarding its production methods. This thesis investigates ethical issues and some of the consequences of modern factory livestock farming. In the thesis, I make connections between the term “animal welfare” and various ethical issues noted in industrial animal farming. Also, I wanted to research if these ethical issues are acknowledged by the general public, the government. That is why I conducted a survey and asked young people questions regarding meat production and meat-eating habits. Regarding the government, I researched how exactly do governments deal with ethical issues listed in my thesis. Moreover, I introduce some of the alternative ways of producing meat and meat-like products and research whether young consumers would be ready for consuming them.

Keywords

animal welfare, factory farming, environment, food safety, meat, consumer choice, agriculture

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 14. 3. 2021

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Daniel Rosenhaft Swain, Ph.D. MA

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Bachelor programme / field:
Economics Policy and Administration / Business Administration