The HSUS

By Dr. Jennifer Lanier

In San, Juan, Costa Rica, I recently gave a presentation on humane food animal production to a room filled with people concerned about the future of their culture, of their ties to the land, of their families, and of their industry.

Before my presentation, a beef producer named Juan sat down next to me and said, "Thank you for being here." Juan pulled several small pieces of paper from his pocket and explained that each was a phone message from a corporate agriculture representative expressing an interest in absorbing his ranch into their industrial agriculture "borg."

The term is an apt one to describe the absorption of local producers by large industrial agriculture concerns. The practice is akin to Star Trek's "Borg," a collective entity that assimilates everyone it encounters, claiming that "resistance is futile."

Up against the influence of the industrial agriculture "borg," farmers like Juan don't have too many other choices. As if answering my question as to why I was in San Jose instead of New York, Juan commented, "If you hadn't come here, I would have to return these calls."

Local Producers Challenge Massive Industrial Models

Prior to my visit, Humane Society International approached Central American producers about their concerns over preserving their way of life. Most were apprehensive about being unable to compete with cheap imports from the United States once the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is ratified. They had seen many small producers and businesses in Mexico forced to close shop or adopt U.S. business practices in order to stay in business after the North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified.

Several attendees expressed concern that American companies were pressuring them to modernize and intensify their current production. Most Central American producers don't want to build large, self-contained confinement operations to raise more and more animals. They recognize the inherent flaws of large-scale factory farms, which raise more animals but also use more water. This leads to more animal waste and larger qualities of contaminated water, because water is the main method of cleaning confinement operations.

The removal of waste is a pressing issue to Central American countries. Most don't have adequate waste treatment plants, so they take polluted rivers and streams seriously. Many look for ways to reduce animal waste and the amount of water used in their operations, in order to preserve their land's ecological health. Some even go as far as to build their own small-scale waste and water treatment areas. In these, the filtered water is used to grow fruit trees, and the waste is composted. A number of producers told me that a limiting factor for them increasing production is the carrying capacity of their land for water and waste.

It's just one reason that Central Americans are now looking for ways to avoid being assimilated by corporate agriculture. To do so, they're searching for—and in some instances finding—ways to distinguish themselves from the industrial agriculture "borg."

HSI Promotes Humane Methods to Aid Local Producers

For example, The HSUS/HSI is helping Costa Rica collect and analyze data in a baseline study to determine the current treatment of animals during slaughter, and an assessment of the animals' prior treatment by examining the bruises on their carcasses. The results will be used to identify areas for improving animal care and training people how to handle, transport and slaughter animals as humanely as possible. El Salvador is looking to build a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse. Their goal is to provide a safe, local product while ensuring that animals are slaughtered in a humane and hygienic manner. These products will be distinct from those of mass production entities, as they will be locally-produced using more humane production and slaughter techniques than those coming from the "borg."

As nervous as they are about CAFTA-DR, many Central American producers are looking forward to the pending Free Trade Agreement because they're excited about the potential exchange of information. They are eager to learn more about humane animal husbandry, humane slaughter, food safety and local food distribution. Juan and many others like him are enthused about applying new information to their current production practices. Information on pasture management and genetic selection as it relates specifically to their situation is useful to them. Producers want farm practices that take into account their love of the land and maximize their quality time with family and friends.

"Free trade" may bring some advantages, but they aren't always apparent to the smallest competitors in an atmosphere of "get big or get out." However, Juan and others in Central America are realizing that in an age of cookie cutter production, the small, tasty, handcrafted cookie does stand a chance against the large, bland, mass-produced one. And we're helping them sustain the values that matter to them—including looking after their animals properly—in a world that is increasingly complex but also increasingly concerned about the effects of industrial farming.

The HSUS/HSI are doing more in Central America than providing fact sheets and giving presentations. In 2005, I will spend approximately three months in Central America. I'll be working closely with the agriculture industries to improve livestock care, build general awareness about animal welfare and help local farmers like Juan protect themselves from the looming agricultural "borg."

Jennifer Lanier is director of scientific programs in the Farm Animals and Sustainable Agriculture section of The HSUS.

The HSUS and HSI are working throughout Central America to enhance agricultural producers' livelihood through improved animal welfare awareness, integration, and the incorporation of humane standards in production processes. We work with government, industry, and academia, to help establish an example of collaboration that benefits the consumer, producers, and continuously improves welfare for animals.

Posted Feb. 1, 2007