The link between food systems and social justice

On World Day of Social Justice, which is observed every 20 February, we are reminded of the fundamental need to build fairer societies. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8), which promotes sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, we must consider how our food systems contribute to – or hinder – these goals. A crucial but often overlooked aspect of this is our food system – how it operates, who it benefits, and who it harms. Industrial food production, particularly animal agriculture, disproportionately exploits workers, while alternative food systems built around plant-based agriculture offer an opportunity for greater fairness and sustainability.

The current food system: exploitation and inequity

Industrial animal agriculture is one of the most hazardous and exploitative sectors for workers, as highlighted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its Decent Work Agenda, which seeks to improve global labour standards and protections. For example, slaughterhouses and factory farms regularly impose dangerous working conditions, with little regard for worker safety. Many employees – particularly undocumented migrants in some countries – are exposed to repetitive physical strain, high injury rates, and psychological distress. Studies indicate increased risks of depression and PTSD, as well as domestic violence and higher-than-average suicide rates among slaughterhouse workers due to the nature of their work.

Beyond individual worker conditions, the broader structure of food production disadvantages smallholder farmers, who, according to recent studies, produce around a third of the world’s food. However, many of these farmers face significant barriers to transitioning to plant-based agriculture, including a lack of access to financial support, entrenched supply chains that favour large-scale animal agriculture, and limited market incentives for alternative crops. Government subsidies disproportionately favour large agribusinesses, leaving small farmers struggling against an economic system that prioritises industrial-scale production. Without adequate support, these farmers face cycles of debt and economic instability.

[Add ProVeg booklet linking to https://proveg.org/news/four-reasons-plant-based-social-justice/]

The opportunity: plant-based food systems for workers’ rights

At ProVeg, we believe that transitioning to a more plant-based food system presents a unique opportunity to address these systemic injustices and create a fairer, more sustainable future. 

The potential key benefits of such a transition include:

• Safer and healthier jobs – Workers in plant-based food production avoid many of the dangers associated with factory farming and slaughterhouse environments.
• Economic empowerment for farmers – Shifting subsidies towards plant-based agriculture allows smallholder farmers to transition to sustainable crops, providing more stable income opportunities.
• Food sovereignty and local security – Supporting small-scale plant-based farming strengthens resilience, reduces reliance on global supply chains, and enhances food security. Climate shocks hit intensive animal farming the hardest, while diversified systems adapt more easily. Shifting away from industrial livestock production also lowers the risk of zoonotic diseases and future pandemics.
• Environmental justice – Industrial livestock farming disproportionately impacts marginalised communities through land degradation and pollution. A transition to plant-based agriculture could help to mitigate these harms.

[Photo by Nandhu Kumar on Unsplash ]

Policy measures for a just transition

In order to co-create an equitable food system, governments must implement positive policies and large agribusinesses must adopt responsible practices that address both labour rights and food-production practices:

• Reform subsidies – Redirect financial support from industrial livestock production to sustainable plant-based farming.
• Strengthen labour protections – Ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and social protections for agricultural workers, particularly those impacted by the protein transition from industrial livestock jobs to plant-based farming and food production
• Invest in plant-based food innovation – Encourage research and development in sustainable alternatives.
• Support small-scale farmers – Facilitate access to resources and training for those transitioning to plant-based agriculture.
• Include farmers in decision-making – Develop policies that integrate the voices of smallholder farmers, ensuring that their needs are central to food-system reforms, while also ensuring that institutional food-procurement policies prioritise plant-based options in schools, hospitals, and public facilities in order to drive demand for sustainable agriculture.

A call to action

As we mark World Day of Social Justice 2025, it is imperative that we acknowledge the role that food production plays in shaping a fairer society. ProVeg International calls on policymakers to take concrete steps to implement equitable labour protections and support smallholder farmers in transitioning to sustainable agriculture – particularly by expanding crop production for direct human consumption rather than animal feed. This shift will need to be backed by long-term governmental strategies and supply-chain resilience in order to ensure stable, secure livelihoods for agricultural workers, along with fair wages, growth opportunities, and improved working conditions in the evolving plant-based sector. 

Industrial animal agriculture continues to exploit workers and deepen economic inequality, counteracting the principles of SDG 8. However, we have an opportunity to shift towards a system that prioritises social justice, sustainability, and fairness. Governments, businesses, and individuals must take decisive steps to transform our food systems – ensuring that justice extends not only to those who consume food but also to those who produce it.

Read more about how Plant-Rich Diets Contribute to Global Food Security.