Consumption
Over the past 20 years, the Swiss per capita consumption of animal products has reduced only marginally. Around 50kg of meat, 240kg of milk products, 12kg of eggs and 7kg of fish per person are still consumed annually. The consumption of chickens is steadily increasing. Many more individual animals are killed to produce a kilogram of chicken meat than for a kilogram of beef. Switzerland stands above the average in terms of its consumption of animal products. Due to higher incomes and population growth, demand is also growing in poorer countries. It is anticipated that we will see a 70% increase worldwide by 2030.
Our collective consumption of animals is a disaster for the environment. Numerous scientific studies have highlighted the impact of animal farming (which includes the vast amount of crops grown for animal feed) in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and other harms. All of this is incompatible with Switzerland’s Agenda for Sustainable Development. Any agenda for addressing climate change that does not endorse dietary change, or only hints at it, is missing the elephant in the room. The approach of using alternative sources of protein is gaining ground, yet a study published in 2021 predicts that this will only represent 11% of the total protein consumed worldwide by 2035.
Our solutions
Dietary change must be centred in the public discourse. The value of plant-based cuisine should be promoted in institutions and throughout society as a whole. Through the greater availability of plant-based foodstuffs, we can feed ourselves more sustainably and in a more animal-friendly manner. It is increasingly possible to do this without having to compromise on taste, convenience or essential nutrients. We want to see plant-based options offered everywhere from schools and restaurants to hospitals and sporting venues. We think politicians and administrative bodies should promote alternative protein sources instead of continuing to invest in the past and prop up industrial animal production with billions of francs in subsidies.
Plant-based meat alternatives as well as cultivated meat are highly promising alternatives to the status quo when it comes to protein production. Neither is dependent on the slaughter of animals and both are clearly superior to conventional meat sources when it comes to the question of sustainability. The approach of using alternative sources of protein is gaining ground, yet a study published in 2021 predicts that this will only represent 11 percent of the total protein consumed worldwide by 2035. As a world leader in research, Switzerland has outstanding conditions for driving forward the development of meat and milk alternatives. For Sentience, it is clear that we must adopt a pioneering role in this regard.
Latest articles on this topic
Migros’ Decision to Weaken Animal Welfare Standards: A Step Backward for Ethics and Sustainability
Migros recently announced that imported meat products will not have to meet Swiss animal welfare standards anymore. This move marks a significant setback.
In 2025, we are letting the pigs out! 🐷
We are launching a new federal popular initiative demanding outdoor access for all animals in agriculture. This new initiative has the potential to shape the discourse in Switzerland for years to come.
In December, every donation counts twice
From now until the end of December, every donation will be doubled by generous donors — up to a total of 50,000 CHF. This means 10 CHF becomes 20 CHF, and 50 CHF becomes 100 CHF.
Sonoma County’s Measure J: Echoes of Switzerland’s Factory Farming Vote
Recent animal welfare initiatives in Sonoma County, CA, and Switzerland highlight the resilience of grassroots efforts in challenging entrenched interests and promoting more ethical standards.
END preprogrammed suffering: together for Swiss broiler chickens
Coop, Migros, it is high time that we talk. Between the two of you, you are responsible for nearly 80% of meat sales in Switzerland. You therefore bear a critical responsibility for the alarming growth of the poultry industry. The number of...
Logbook : the life of an intensively farmed chicken
A broiler chicken’s weight increases 33 times over its short life. In Switzerland, nearly 80 million broiler chickens are slaughtered each year, 92% of which are raised in intensive aviculture. Their suffering is pre-programmed, encoded in their...
Actions, not words: Help us end preprogrammed suffering NOW!
8 percent of chickens ever see the light of day during their lives. Worse, 92 percent of all chickens belong to so-called “high-performance breeds”, where suffering is genetically preprogrammed. Coop and Migros have the power to stop this trend.
The “invisible” animals need your help
Acknowledging the capacity for suffering as a crucial moral criterion is the core concern of Sentience. Therefore, we aim to give a voice to those animals whose well-being receives no attention in our society - the “invisible” animals.
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