Thank you for mapping the systemic risks of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) – I really appreciate this post and how you’ve highlighted some worrying trends.
I’m horrified by the idea of PLF. While it could potentially, maybe, help some animals in some ways – at what cost?
I agree with you that by supporting it we would be locking in values that factory farming is ok and strategically entrenching an exploitative system. Efforts to improve conditions absolutely matter – but we need to make sure the ‘how’ doesn’t eclipse the deeper question of ‘should we?’ That tension feels especially urgent with PLF, which risks locking in factory farming more deeply than ever.
The future we need doesn’t come from better surveillance of suffering, but from phasing out the systems that cause it.
I appreciated how you countered the natural question –“Isn’t it plausible that improving conditions for billions of animals is high-impact?” by reframing the discussion from per-animal welfare gains to system-level consequences (Quantifying the Net Impact section).
The idea of using regulation as a tool to create liability and slow down investment is compelling—and perhaps necessary if PLF expansion is politically inevitable. A key question, perhaps, is—what would the world look like in 2040 if PLF succeeds versus if we block or delay it? The challenge is walking a fine line: resisting effectively without becoming part of the machinery we’re trying to dismantle.
I think you are right to conclude that it is a pro-industry tool. That’s why we need to be cautious—not to mistake PLF for progress, when it may in fact be entrenchment in disguise.
It’s encouraging to see more conversations like this happening. There’s real value in weaving our decades of lived experience, professional know-how and long-view perspective into EA’s ambitious vision. Older participants still have a lot of skin in the game and a strong desire to help shape the future. I know I do!
I’ve never felt judged for my age personally, nor would I judge others. I’ve met EAers of all ages who are genuinely welcoming and curious. But not everyone experiences it that way. I can imagine some older people taking one look at the sea of 20-somethings and thinking, “Maybe this isn’t for me.” Not because they don’t care, but because they feel out of place or even a bit scared to step into a space that seems to belong to another generation.
I’ve found spaces like HIP’s Impact Accelerator Program (High Impact Professionals) to a great way to engage and learn more about EA. Aimed at mid-career or senior professionals looking to use their careers for more good, they’ve created a thoughtful, age-inclusive community where everyone is encouraged to contribute from where they are in life. (FYI: The next round starts in June. Find more information and FAQs here: https://bit.ly/498iBkm)
I’ll be attending EAG London and so will help shift the average age :)! I look forward to meeting a diverse range of people!