Explainer

Explainer

How Bees Help the Environment and Humans

Why it’s crucial we protect these extremely helpful insects — and what’s at stake if we fail to do so.

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

When Does Prop 12 Go Into Effect — and Will It Be Properly Enforced?

California’s Prop 12 faced industry opposition because it has huge implications for animal welfare. Now that it’s been upheld by the Supreme Court, here’s what’s next.

Factory Farms•11 min read

Explainer

Extreme Heat Is Deadly for Farm Animals — and Too Often, They Receive No Mercy

One ‘solution’ employed for overheated animals on factory farms? Mass suffocation.

Climate•8 min read

Explainer

15 Plant-Based Meat Companies You Should Know

The plant-based food industry has exploded in recent years, with plant-based meats igniting the conversation about the future of food.

Food•10 min read

Explainer

What Sheep Farming Really Means For Animals and the Environment

Like many other forms of agriculture, sheep farming has become increasingly industrialized. Here’s what you need to know.

Food•10 min read

Explainer

Are Orcas Smart Enough to Plot Against Humans? Their Intelligence, Explained

A series of seemingly coordinated attacks against fishing vessels has the public paying attention to orcas. Here’s what you need to know about this remarkable species.

Science•8 min read

Explainer

The Animal Welfare Act Actually Doesn’t Protect Most Animals

Why are so many animals left out of the Animal Welfare Act? We explain the history of the law, and its shortcomings.

Factory Farms•9 min read

Explainer

What Is the Difference Between Animal Rights and Animal Welfare?

Animal welfare advocates and animal rights groups are sometimes at odds. In this explainer, we dig into where the two approaches diverge.

Culture•6 min read

Explainer

Are Wagyu Cows Raised More Humanely Than Other Cows?

Wagyu beef is one of the most expensive — and consistently mislabeled — foods on the market. In this explainer, we look into what the "wagyu" label means for the cows.

Food•5 min read

Explainer

What Are Right to Farm Laws?

Right to farm laws are increasingly used to protect industrial meat operations from answering for their air and water pollution.

Factory Farms•4 min read

Explainer

The Four Most Intelligent Insects

Research shows honeybees can do math. Meanwhile some ants are building massive underground fungi farms.

Science•5 min read

Explainer

Why So-Called Fake Meat Is Actually Better for Nature Than the Real Thing

"Fake meat" has long been used as an insult to the alternative protein market but in reality natural meat is far worse for the planet.

Climate•9 min read

Explainer

Why Do Some Critics Still Call It Lab-Grown Meat?

More than 150 companies are growing meat from fish or animal cells. Yet some critics still deride cultivated proteins as "lab-grown meat." Why?

Science•12 min read

Explainer

What Does ‘Humanely Raised’ Actually Mean for Farm Animals?

A growing number of companies are marketing meat and dairy as 'humanely raised'. We take a closer look at the reality behind the label.

Diet•7 min read

Explainer

Do SNAP Benefits Actually Work to Address Hunger?

Over 34 million people in the U.S. suffer from hunger. One effort to address food insecurity is through SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

Health•7 min read

Explainer

What a Climavore Eats and Believes, Explained

A new kind of eater — the climavore — eats foods based on their environmental footprint. But the approach has been criticized by food justice and animal advocates.

Climate•7 min read

Explainer

The Difference Between Essential and Nonessential Amino Acids, Explained

There are 11 nonessential amino acids that are absolutely critical for your body.

Health•4 min read

Explainer

The Farm Bill Is Crucial. Here’s Why.

The farm bill is a collection of laws that governs our food system, including subsidies and federal nutrition benefits known as SNAP.

Factory Farms•7 min read

Explainer

Is Dairy Bad for You? 

Is there a link between dairy and cancer risk? The evidence isn't conclusive but we took a closer look at what we do know in this explainer.

Health•7 min read

Explainer

Here’s How to Get Better at Reading Food Labels

Food labels are confusing. Our guide will help you tell the difference between useful information and meaningless junk.

Health•8 min read

Explainer

Am I Getting Enough Essential Amino Acids?

There are nine essential amino acids that your body can get from a variety of foods, including plant-based sources like nuts.

Health•9 min read

Explainer

20 Healthy Plant-Based Protein Sources for a Sustainable Diet

Protein is an essential part of any heathy diet but it's possible to get all that you need from a healthy variety of plant-based sources.

Health•10 min read

Explainer

What Does the FDA Do? 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ensures the country's food, medical and cosmetic products are safe.

Farms•9 min read

Explainer

Which Foods Are Dairy?

The global dairy industry produces nearly 550 million metric tons of cow’s milk each year. But which products are dairy and how are they made?

Diet•11 min read

Explainer

What Does the USDA Do?

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many responsibilities, including oversight of the food system and rural development.

Food•7 min read

Explainer

What Are Gestation Crates?

Gestation crates are one of the most controversial aspects of pork production. But what are they, and why does the industry say they're necessary?

Food•7 min read

Explainer

Is It Legal to Kill Baby Chickens?

The egg industry continues to cull billions of male chicks worldwide each year — despite legal and scientific progress to curb the practice.

Food•8 min read

Explainer

How Do You Make Leather From Mushrooms?

Leather made from mushrooms is a cruelty-free and environmentally friendly alternative to animal hides, including cow and lamb.

Research•7 min read

Explainer

How Does a Cattle Feedlot Work?

What is a feedlot? These large fenced-off areas of land house thousands of cattle as they gain weight before slaughter. But how do they work?

Food•7 min read

Explainer

Is Almond Milk Bad for the Environment?

Almond milk has become increasingly popular over the last decade or so. More and more Americans enjoy it in recipes or their coffee, or even straight from the carton. Yet…

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

How Much Water Does a Cow Need?

California may be out of its drought but millions of thirsty animals farmed in the west are still at risk. Just how much water does a cow drink anyway?

Climate•3 min read

Explainer

How Do Pesticides Work?

The U.S. uses around 1 billion pounds of conventional pesticides each year to control weeds, insects and other crop-damaging invaders. Pesticides are crucial for protecting crops but can also be…

Science•9 min read

Explainer

Whether It’s Grass-Fed or Grass-Finished, Beef Is Still a Problem

Consumers want to know the difference between grass-fed vs. grass-finished but research shows all beef is bad for the planet.

Food•7 min read

Explainer

Explainer: Is Octopus Farming Ethical?

A major seafood company is still moving ahead with its Canary Islands octopus farming operation despite ethical objections from researchers.

Fisheries & Aquaculture•10 min read

Explainer

What Is Climate-Smart Agriculture?

With over $3 billion allocated to climate-smart agriculture programs, some experts worry there's little agreement about what the term actually means.

Climate•11 min read

Explainer

What Is Sustainable Agriculture?

Sustainable agriculture prioritizes natural resources and healthy soils but because the label is not well-regulated, any farm can call itself "sustainable."

Farms•10 min read

Explainer

What Is Agroecology?

Agroecology relies on traditional Indigenous farming knowledge to make farming more sustainable.

Farms•6 min read

Explainer

Yes, Fur Farming Is Still Legal

61 percent of U.S. voters support a ban on fur farming — yet the $22 billion industry is still legal in the U.S. and much of the rest of the…

Food•12 min read

Explainer

How Do Factory Farms Use Antibiotics?

Antibiotic resistance is a growing public health threat responsible for 1.2 million deaths worldwide. A leading driver of this crisis? Antibiotic use on factory farms.

Health•8 min read

Explainer

What Are the Impacts of Dairy Goat Production?

Goat milk has become increasingly popular, yet most consumers are unaware of the environmental and animal welfare impacts of dairy goat production.

Food•5 min read

Explainer

Why Do We Call Them Broiler Chickens?

The poultry industry uses the term "broiler chickens" to describe birds farmed for meat. But where exactly does the term come from?

Food•9 min read

Explainer

What Does “Free-Range” Mean for the Animals?

You might think "free-range" meat comes from happy animals but in reality, the label is no guarantee the farm meets any animal welfare standards.

Food•7 min read

Explainer

What Is Grazing?

In animal agriculture, grazing is the practice of allowing animals to roam across land. Grazing allows animals to behave naturally but it also comes with many environmental downsides.

Farms•8 min read

Explainer

Is Organic Food Better for You?

What makes a food "organic"? One survey found only 20 percent of respondents knew the answer.

Food•9 min read

Explainer

What Is a Food System?

Food systems refer to different ways societies organize the production and distribution of food. While some types put a strain on the planet, others have a smaller impact.

Farms•8 min read

Explainer

What Is Animal Welfare?

Public opinion polls find strong levels of support for animal welfare laws aimed at improving the treatment of farm animals.

Food•9 min read

Explainer

How Many Cows Are Killed Each Year?

Almost 300 million cattle were slaughtered globally in 2020, despite research suggesting cows are capable of feeling pain and distress.

Food•8 min read

Explainer

Why Beef Is Bad for Climate Change, Explained

It all comes down to burps and land.

Climate•6 min read

Explainer

Why Is Cattle Ranching Bad for the Environment?

Across the globe, cattle ranching is a leading cause of environmental damage, including high levels of water use, deforestation and methane emissions.

Climate•5 min read

Explainer

How Many Sharks Are Killed Each Year?

Around 100 million sharks are killed each year across the globe, often for their fins and cartilage.

Climate•7 min read