IPCC report food system

IPCC: Slashing Emissions From Meat Crucial to Climate Action

A trio of new reports — including the IPCC’s latest — makes clear that food system reform is a crucial part of climate action.

wildlife wins from infrastructure bill

Wildlife Wins From Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Act

A bounty of much-needed new federal funds will help reconnect habit for freshwater and terrestrial animals.

Fish pass the mirror test, according to science

Fish Pass the Mirror Test. Here’s What That Means.

A new study finds fish can recognize their own reflection and distinguish themselves from other fish.

complete avian flu coverage

Avian Flu: Full Coverage

Our complete coverage of avian influenza linked here.

freshwater fish are a source of PFAS contaminants

Freshwater Fish Are a ‘Significant Source’ of Forever Chemicals

New research finds significantly higher levels of PFAS in locally caught freshwater fish than store-bought fish.

avian flu cases in humans

Every Human Case of Avian Flu Reported So Far

Human cases remain rare but the risk of an outbreak could change at any time.

fish feel pain

Wild Fish Feel Pain — But They Have No Welfare Protections

Commercial fishing methods are not designed for a quick or painless death.

pandemic risk

Pandemic Risk on the Rise Thanks to How We Eat

Pandemic risk is on the rise, but researchers know the cause and how to reduce the risk.

The Year in Food and Farming News: 2022 Supercut

Watch The Month in Minute media recap here.

The Month in a Minute: December 2022

Media recap of the top stories in agriculture, climate, science and justice in 60 seconds.

2022 Sentient Media Year in Review

Sentient Media’s 2022 Year in Review

Top posts from 2022 and more.

Eurasian brown bear

New Research Finds E.U. Policies Fund Beef and Bioenergy Over Nature

Two new reports find E.U. policies are failing to protect climate and biodiversity.

global bird declines

Rapid Bird Species Decline Boosts Case for Biodiversity Action

New wildlife report reveals 49 percent of bird species are decreasing.

Plant Based Price Parity

Don’t Count Plant-based Meat Out Just Yet

The plant-based industry skeptics are ignoring a crucial factor: price parity.

MIAM November

The Month in a Minute: November 2022

Media recap of the top stories in agriculture, climate, science and justice in 60 seconds.

Why Shark Fin Soup

Why Shark Fin Soup Is Still Served at Weddings

Shark finning is bad for animals and the environment yet the dish is still sometimes on the menu.

low methane beef misleads consumers

Why You Shouldn’t Buy “Low Methane Beef”

Meat companies are greenwashing beef with a “low methane” rebrand.

avian flu cull

Poultry Producers Use ‘Most Inhumane Method’ to Kill Birds Exposed to Avian Flu

New analysis from the Animal Welfare Institute found that the majority of producers chose to kill their animals using ventilation shutdown plus heat.

farmed animals in drought

Factory Farms Are Destroying This Natural Resource

Bolivia’s growing factory farm industry is putting the Chiquitano Forest at risk.

Should animal groups serve meat

Should Animal Protection Groups Serve Meat?

What we eat — even at galas and special events — has an impact on the planet and animals.

MIAM October

The Month in a Minute: October 2022

In Sentient Media’s monthly video series, host Jasmine Leyva shares the top stories in food, animals and the environment in 60 seconds.

future of animal activism

Two Recent Court Cases Shift the Future of the Animal Rights Movement

The Smithfield and Excelsior trials ended with very different decisions that could impact the future of the movement.

Bangladesh family

Why Fish Are Disappearing in Bangladesh

There were once more than 300 native freshwater fish species in Bangladesh, but many have disappeared or are on the verge of extinction.

Latin America and the Caribbean Must Reduce Beef Emissions To Meet Net-zero, New Report Says

A new report shows countries in the region must reduce their beef consumption in order to meet climate targets.

elephant

Elephants Thrive in Sanctuaries Over Zoos, Research Shows

An increasing number of zoos across the world are allowing their elephants to retire to sanctuaries.

algae bloom

Danger Looms Where Toxic Algae Blooms

Animal agriculture is the primary source of nutrient pollution to Great Lakes waters. Yet billions spent on clean up strategies aren’t working.

freya

The Correction: How the Media Failed Freya the Walrus

In this month’s Correction, we look at the media’s coverage of Freya the Walrus and Alaskan snow crabs, plus the beef industry sponsors Climate Week NYC.

farmed animals in drought

Millions of Factory Farm Animals Are Living in Drought. Here’s What That Looks Like.

“We’re in an apocalyptic phase for animals in CAFOs.”

dairy cow

New Study Shows Canadians Should Eat Less Meat and Dairy to Reach Climate Goals

New research shows Canadians can reach their climate goals by reducing meat and dairy consumption.

shorebird

Avian Flu Could Hit Latin America Next, Shorebird Researchers Warn

The avian influenza is a growing source of concern for Latin American researchers, since its high pathogenicity represents a risk of infection for migratory shorebirds.

sanctuary cow

New Study Confirms — Again — Plant-Based Is Better for the Planet

University of Oxford researchers examined 57,000 foods and deemed plant-based options better for the environment than meat.

ocean life

Overfishing Urgently Needs Reeling in to Cope With Climate Change

Researchers say officials must do more to curb overfishing, including curtailing industrial fishing to protect marine life.

shopping cart

The Month in a Minute: June 2022

In Sentient Media’s monthly video series, host Jasmine Leyva shares the top stories in food, animals, and the environment in 60 seconds.

cull dead hens

Latest Updates From the 2022 Avian Flu Outbreak

The first human case of avian flu was confirmed in China last week. But over the past three months, millions of birds have died.

fires amazon

Deforestation in Amazon and Cerrado Reaches Record High

Officials say fires burning in the Amazon and Cerrado to clear land for soybean production—the primary ingredient in animal feed—have reached an all-time high.

food street

The Month in a Minute: May 2022

The top stories in food, animals, and the environment in 60 seconds.

chicken farm

Claims of Meat Shortages During the Pandemic Were ‘Baseless’, Report Finds

A scathing new report alleges that the country’s largest meat producers made “baseless” claims of meat shortages to keep their facilities running in the early stages of the pandemic.

health headlines

One Study, Five Headlines: How to Deal With Conflicting Diet News

A new study about vegetarian children led to conflicting reports from several media outlets, including EurekAlert! and the Daily Mail. What did the actual study say?

climate change pandemic

Climate Change Could Give Rise to Next Global Pandemic

A new study finds that as climate change pushes wildlife into closer contact with humans, zoonotic diseases will be able to spread more easily.

business lunch

Climate Crisis Not Always the Top Concern for People Choosing Plant-Based Meat

A new study concludes that animal welfare and health considerations both influenced consumer decisions. Surprisingly, the environment did not.

farm smithfield

Report Ties Smithfield Pig Farms to Decades of ‘Chronic’ Pollution

“This is what happens when you try to put too many animals in the same place,” says the report’s author, who lives next door to one of the pig farms.

dog computer

The Month in a Minute: April 2022

The top stories in food, animals, and the environment in 60 seconds.

upside foods chicken

Cultivated Meat Gains Ground in Hyper-Competitive Industry

Cultivated meat is attracting a lot of new attention. But experts question whether the new technology will truly make our food systems more sustainable.

meat industry

Meat Industry Relies on ‘Powerful Voice’ to Cover Up Climate Impact

A first-of-a-kind study looked into the UK meat industry. It found that the industry relies on misinformation to cover up its harmful impacts.

killer whale

The Biggest Threats Facing Killer Whales in Pacific Northwest

Researcher Deborah Giles is on the frontlines of efforts to understand—and help protect—critically endangered Southern Residents.

sustainable farming

How This Traditional Farming Practice Became a Top Climate Solution

The latest IPCC report states in its strongest terms yet the need for action to reduce emissions, and one of the key strategies it outlines for policymakers is agroecology.

cow feed

Antibiotic Residue Found in Antibiotic-Free Meat at Whole Foods

A new study reveals that meat certified to be antibiotic-free was, in fact, raised with antibiotics. Another study found that organic farms were also not antibiotic-free.

earth climate change

‘It’s Now or Never’: IPCC Report Demands Immediate Climate Action

The landmark report states that we can halve emissions by the year 2030, but to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must act immediately.

plant foods

Choosing Plant-Based Foods Could Have Lasting Impact on Biodiversity

A new report from the Food Foundation shows that choosing plant-based foods in place of conventional meat products could have far-reaching impacts on nature.

phone person

The Month in a Minute: March 2022

Our monthly recap of the top stories about animals, agriculture, and the environment.