Commercial livestock facilities are here to stay

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to ban "factory farming". In a referendum on whether it’s necessary to further tighten the country's already strict animal welfare laws, 62.86% of votes were against the proposal. 

• According to interviewees, there are farmers who do intensive farming, but are respectful of animal welfare. 
• More importantly, intensive farming is necessary to feed the population, or else meat scarcity is in store for all of us. 

• The government recommended voting against the proposal, stating the changes in caring for and slaughtering animals, for instance, would ultimately lead to breaches in trade accords, increases in investment and operating costs, and boosts in food prices.