Results of water samples taken from waterways at 12 RSPCA Assured farms have been revealed, as part of Animal Rising’s investigation into over 40 Assured farms this year. [1]
The results, assessed by Oakshire Environmental consulting services, showed high levels of pollutants associated with farm run-off on all 12 sites, “presenting a potential risk to human health”. [2]
The news comes alongside plans for a protest to pressure the Labour government to tackle water pollution. Animal Rising have confirmed their presence at the London March for Clean Water rally on October 26th. [3]
Studies suggest that 40% of British rivers and lakes are polluted directly by agriculture, making it the leading cause of water pollution over sewage. [4]
In a groundbreaking report, Animal Rising has revealed the scale of pollution in rivers in the vicinity of RSPCA Assured Farms across the UK. This comes after the group exposed hundreds of legal breaches of animal welfare earlier this year. The findings strengthen calls for the RSPCA to drop the scheme.
One of the RSPCA Assured farms tested was Cherry Tree Farm in Stow Bedon, Norfolk which has already been subject to a high-profile scandal with local residents blaming the farm on health complaints and even nosebleeds due to the smell of ammonia. [5] Oxidised nitrogen levels were elevated in samples taken from nearby the farm, and copper levels here exceeded the long-term standard for fresh water.
Although all samples were found to have elevated contaminant concentrations which could cause a potential risk to human health, samples from Oakham Poultry, Nottinghamshire and Elliot’s Eggs, East Yorkshire, were revealed to have the highest concentration of contaminants.
Claudia Penna Rojas, 26, collected samples from the farms and said:
“Despite the idyllic picture the RSPCA is trying to sell to the public, their farms are no different than the thousands of other farms polluting our waterways and damaging our ecosystem. Every sample we took contained elevated levels of contaminant concentrations associated with farms and agricultural land. This poses a risk to human health and to aquatic life, putting us, animals, and our delicate natural world at risk. It’s time for the RSPCA to do the right thing and drop the meaningless Assured scheme.”
Rose Patterson, 35, who led the investigations into neglect and suffering on RSPCA farms, said:
“It’s time for widespread action to heal our disconnect from the natural world. Animal agriculture is a leading cause of the climate crisis and Britain’s depleted biodiversity. Our findings from RSPCA farms show that even the so-called best of the best are contributing to ecological devastation. We’re proud to be joining the March for Clean Water as part of our commitment to promoting a plant-based future to protect our fragile ecosystem.”
Animal Rising is a social movement to create a new relationship with all beings and give us a chance for a safe ecological future. The group primarily calls for the transition to a secure and sustainable plant-based food system, alongside a mass rewilding programme.
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