I’m hugely excited to share the podcast from my recent discussions with MEPs and campaigners at the European Parliament. I was in Brussels for a round table discussion on the need for total reform of farming across the European Union, and to launch our STOPTHEMACHINE exhibition.

Hosted by MEP Anja Hazekamp of the Dutch Party for the animals, the exhibition was placed at the heart of the Parliament building to open the eyes of decision-makers to the reality that factory farming is one of the biggest drivers of species extinction and biodiversity loss on the planet.

The podcast features Anja’s speech in which she outlined the benefits to the planet if people were to stop eating meat. She said: “If the Dutch stopped eating meat for one day a week, it would be equivalent to taking one million cars off the roads.” Anja has no illusions that achieving fundamental change to farming will be easy, pointing out that more than half the European Union budget goes to agriculture and that many don’t want to change the system.

Support for change is growing as is discussed by MEP Florent Marcellesi and Marco Contiero, Policy Director on Agriculture at Greenpeace Europe on the podcast. Marco highlighted the benefits of mixed farming, calling for people to eat less meat, whilst Florent called for people to eat better, saying “We have to change the emotion and the heart of the people. It’s cool to eat better quality.”

Here at Compassion one of our greatest victories was persuading the European Union to recognise animals as sentient beings. With a history of achieving change I’m really pleased that the podcast includes an interview with our European Affairs manager, Olga Kikou, explaining how we work in Brussels to achieve reform and how that work is expanding.

I do hope that you enjoy the podcast which also features my thoughts on the opportunities for the UK post-Brexit and the need to ensure UK recognition of animals as sentient beings once we leave the EU.

Please take action to STOPTHEMACHINE here by calling on EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella to protect farm animals and wildlife from the suffering and devastation of factory farming.

Support for changes to food and farming in the heart of Europe