Analysis
Sentient Media’s 2022 Year in Review
Top posts from 2022 and more.
Food•7 min read
Analysis
Analysis
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.
Climate•5 min read
Analysis
Rapid Bird Species Decline Boosts Case for Biodiversity Action
New wildlife report reveals 49 percent of bird species are decreasing.
Climate•7 min read
Analysis
Don’t Count Plant-based Meat Out Just Yet
The plant-based industry skeptics are ignoring a crucial factor: price parity.
Food•9 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: November 2022
Media recap of the top stories in agriculture, climate, science and justice in 60 seconds.
Month in a Minute•5 min read
Analysis
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.
Health•4 min read
Analysis
Why You Shouldn’t Buy “Low Methane Beef”
Meat companies are greenwashing beef with a "low methane" rebrand.
Food•5 min read
Analysis
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.
Food•3 min read
Analysis
Factory Farms Are Destroying This Natural Resource
Bolivia's growing factory farm industry is putting the Chiquitano Forest at risk.
Food•5 min read
Analysis
Should Animal Protection Groups Serve Meat?
What we eat — even at galas and special events — has an impact on the planet and animals.
Policy•6 min read
Analysis
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.
Month in a Minute•4 min read
Analysis
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.
Law & Justice•5 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•7 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•8 min read
Analysis
Elephants Thrive in Sanctuaries Over Zoos, Research Shows
An increasing number of zoos across the world are allowing their elephants to retire to sanctuaries.
Entertainment•7 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•19 min read
Analysis
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.
Correction•9 min read
Analysis
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.”
Climate•7 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•4 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•4 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•4 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•6 min read
Analysis
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.
Month in a Minute•7 min read
Analysis
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.
Food•8 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•4 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: May 2022
The top stories in food, animals, and the environment in 60 seconds.
Month in a Minute•10 min read
Analysis
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.
Food•3 min read
Analysis
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?
Diet•5 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•6 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: April 2022
The top stories in food, animals, and the environment in 60 seconds.
Month in a Minute•3 min read
Analysis
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.
Science•3 min read
Analysis
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.
Food•4 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•9 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•13 min read
Analysis
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.
Food•3 min read
Analysis
‘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.
Climate•2 min read
Analysis
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.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: March 2022
Our monthly recap of the top stories about animals, agriculture, and the environment.
Month in a Minute•4 min read
Analysis
Most Factory Farms Have ‘Free Pass’ to Pollute the Environment
Emissions from factory farms in the U.S. cause more deaths than coal-fired plants. And yet, factory farming is one of the least regulated industries by the EPA.
Climate•7 min read
Analysis
Researchers Find Endangered Shark DNA in Dog and Cat Food
A new study found shark DNA in about one-third of the cat and dog food samples sequenced. Consumers likely had no idea what they were buying.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
New Study Shows How ‘Inefficient and Inequitable’ Food Systems Can Be
A new study reveals that millions of tons of fish caught in the global south are being fed to farmed salmon sold for human consumption in wealthier countries.
Food•4 min read
Analysis
Climate Crisis Unfolding Faster Than We Can Adapt, Says IPCC
The latest UN report details the escalating impacts of climate change, which are being driven by “unsustainable” consumption patterns in the Global North.
Climate•4 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: February 2022
Our monthly recap of the biggest stories in animals, food, the environment, and justice delivered to you in just one minute.
Month in a Minute•4 min read
Analysis
Big Meat and Dairy Producers Tighten Their Grip on the Amazon
A new investigation finds that deforestation of the Amazon for soy farming has continued despite a moratorium. Big meat and dairy companies are largely to blame.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
Biden’s $1-Billion Bid to Make U.S. Farming More Sustainable
The U.S. food system is dominated by intensive agriculture. What would a more sustainable one look like? Biden just took a big step in the right direction.
Climate•3 min read
Analysis
The Month in a Minute: January 2022
Introducing brand new video series: The Month in a Minute. From avian flu to greenwashing, revisit January’s top stories delivered to you in one minute.
Month in a Minute•3 min read
Analysis
Just 17 Plants Slaughtered 65% of U.S. Pigs Last Year
The number of hogs slaughtered dropped in the first few months of the pandemic before recovering to match—and in some cases exceed—2019 levels.
Food•1 min read
Analysis
USDA Releases Years of Slaughterhouse Records Following Lawsuit
New records released by the USDA reveal the handling of farmed animals in slaughterhouses over the past five years. This marks a major step towards transparency in the food supply…
Food•3 min read
Donate
You have read 0 articles.
Independent Journalism Relies on You
As a fiercely independent, reader-supported news outlet, we’re unswayed by advertisers and profit margins. Your support funds investigative journalism, fact-checked explainers, resources for journalists and partnerships with publishers to boost reporting on the most pressing issues of our time. Read more
Most Read Today
•- High-Protein Diets Are Popular — but They Certainly Aren’t Sustainable
- Two States Declared Themselves Bird-Flu Free. But What Does That Really Mean?
- As Trump Stands Firm on Tariffs, USDA Signals Possible Relief for Farmers
- What Is Climate Change and How Do We Solve It?
- What Fish Farming Really Means for the Environment, Animals and People
- Smithfield Foods Is Owned by China, but Pollution and Price-Fixing Are the Real Problem
- How Livestock Farming Affects Climate Change, Explained
- Why Do Some Critics Still Call It Lab-Grown Meat?
Topics
Sentient investigates and explains factory farms and their effect on climate, the environment, animals, health, politics and rural communities.