Farmers on the Frontline

Our biggest event at COP30 highlighted the climate impacts of industrial animal agriculture. We presented our report, which examines eleven global case studies showing how increasingly extreme weather events are devastating farmers, farmed animals, and food security.

Vanessa Gisckkow Garbini, Mercy for Animals Brazil, and panellists, including farmer Karina David, ProNobis Agroflorestal, shared their perspectives on the extreme flooding in southern Brazil last year, which led to the death of over a million farmed animals.

We also discussed opportunities to build a more resilient and humane food system with panellists Fabricio Muriana, Instituto Regenera, João Gonçalves, Mighty Earth Brazil, Tuanny Comini, Co-Founder at WePlant.

João Gonçalves said:

If we don’t move, if we don’t transform the way we produce food, we’ll keep devastating the planet. We can’t continue this way.

At our accompanying exhibition, the farmers’ testimonies, satellite imagery and photographs showed attendees how the expansion of industrial livestock farming has reshaped Brazil’s landscapes and affected rural livelihoods.

The panellists agreed agroecological farming must be a key part of the solution.

Brazilian organic farmer Karina David said:

We know nature is the best teacher. Why do policies ignore that? Why do the systems ignore that?

Managing nitrogen for a sustainable future

Another major issue we tackled at COP30 is nitrogen waste and pollution. We co-organised two events at the UN and country Pavilions to raise awareness and drive action in the area.

Excessive nitrogen use from fertilisers and manure causes air and water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, soil degradation and biodiversity loss.

We have far exceeded the planetary boundary set for nitrogen, and industrial animal agriculture is a major contributor.

Our Senior International Affairs Manager, Andrea Perez, highlighted to policymakers at the UN’s FAO Pavilion and Pakistan Pavilion the “strong opportunity” to better manage nitrogen in agriculture as part of food system transformation – to boost our biodiversity, soil health, and food security, while reducing emissions.

Sustainable nitrogen management also brings economic benefits from reducing waste in agriculture, supporting livelihoods worldwide.

Our calls for food system change at COP30