Industrial Factory Farming as a Wicked Problem: Applying One Health Solutions

Industrial factory farming is a wicked problem, presenting significant challenges to human, non-human animals, and environmental health and necessitating a shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices. Factory farming is a key contributor to the emergence of antibiotic resistance and zoonotic disease transmission, environmental degradation, and the unethical treatment of non-human animals. In addition to presenting a risk to the health of all One Health stakeholders, factory farming has specifically affected Indigenous communities due to a direct conflict in values. Several grassroots organizations provide a One Health solution. Transfarmation, highlighted here, is an initiative advocating for the transition from factory farming to more sustainable farming models, offering a viable solution to these issues. By supporting farmers as they transition to plant-based food systems, the initiative promotes economic resilience and an ethical alternative. Integrating this approach suggests promising change for the future of factory farming, but emphasizes the additional need for systemic, consumer-driven change, and policy reform to achieve a healthier and more sustainable future for all.