Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker

Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker Join Forces on Bill to Ban Most Factory Farming by 2040

The Farm System Reform Act would prohibit new large factory farms from going into business and force others to cease expansions before halting operations entirely within two decades. Warren's support for the law comes after multiple reports of unsafe conditions in the meatpacking industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 7, 2020 | Source: Newsweek | by Aila Slisco

Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced Thursday that she would be co-sponsoring Sen. Cory Booker’s bill to phase out large-scale factory farming by 2040.

The Farm System Reform Act would prohibit new large factory farms from going into business and force others to cease expansions before halting operations entirely within two decades. Warren’s support for the law comes after multiple reports of unsafe conditions in the meatpacking industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Ro Khanna is also co-sponsoring the effort and has introduced companion legislation to the House.

“For years, regulators looked the other way while giant multinational corporations crushed competition in the agriculture sector and seized control over key markets,” Warren said in a statement. “The COVID-19 crisis will make it easier for Big Ag to get even bigger, gobble up smaller farms, and lead to fewer choices for consumers.”

“We need to attack this consolidation head-on and give workers, farmers, and consumers bargaining power in our farm and food system,” added Warren. “I’m glad to partner with Senator Booker and Representative Khanna to start reversing the hyper-concentration in our farm economy.”