Project summary

Organisation dedicated to researching on existing regulations regarding the protection of farm animals to develop targeted actions and strategies to close regulatory gaps, improve enforcement, and correct non-compliant practices in the factory farming industry.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

Our mission is to intervene the factory farming industry in all its stages: breeding, transport and slaughter. Our first targeted country is Chile, and we're doing preliminary research of other countries in Latin America, Africa and South & South East Asia.

Our goals:

1. Identify and close regulatory gaps: Through a thorough analysis of existing laws and policies, we aim to uncover gaps that allow for the mistreatment or suffering of animals during breeding, transportation and slaughter.

2. Assess enforcement issues: We will evaluate the level of enforcement of current regulations and the common practices in the field, identifying instances where regulations are being ignored or violated, and look for effectively sanction (and ensure payment of fines) to those companies in breach.

3. Recommend policy reforms: Based on our findings, we will propose evidence-based recommendations to tighten regulations, improve enforcement, and explore the potential for halting inhumane breeding, transport and slaughter practices altogether.

   For these three goals, we're gonna use, as a first option, administrative actions addressed to the Service in charge of the farm animal industry. Minor adjustments can be made according to the channels available in each country.

4. Public and governmental engagement: The findings will be disseminated through detailed reports, outreach to policymakers, and public awareness campaigns to encourage legislative reforms and corporate responsibility.

5. Close down the companies that represent a danger to our society due to their constant and persistent infringing behaviour.

How will this funding be used?

This funding will be used for ongoing support of critical staff for our research and expenses such as hosting, operations, etc.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

We are a growing and dynamic team of professional animal advocates.

I, Sabina Bravo, am the Founder and Director of Animal Law Focus and a LLB from University of Chile, with more than 5 years of experience in different areas of the law, specifically Animal Law. In 2022, I presented my graduate thesis on the analysis of 200 years of animal protection laws in the four nations of the UK, making a comparative study on the animal cruelty offence. From 2020 to 2024, I worked as a Legal Associate carrying out animal abuse cases, Campaign Manager for the inclusion of animals in the new Constitution of Chile, being responsible for a significant amount of project management work, marketing and networking in order to help expanding the organisation. Since September 2023, I have been working as Researcher at Animal Policy International, an international organisation that seeks banning the live exportations in New Zealand and the UK, and since July 2024, I took a 5-month project as Marketing Manager at the World Moot on International Law and Animal Rights. I'm also an active member of the EA Community, regularly attending conferences in person and virtually. Outside the Animal Advocacy, I have 8 years of work experience in various fields.

Certainly, this is my biggest project so far and that is why I am very grateful for the good reception that the organisation has had and that many people believe in and support our work.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

If this project fails, it would be due to two situations: (1) lack of funds; (2) difficulties with the administration of the service which is run by the animal farming industry.

In either scenario, we still expect to be able to finish our research report, but not at the pace of work that the animals need and the subsequent actions could be affected, highly if we do not have funds and, moderately, if the situation is number 2.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

We're starting fresh! But our organisation has been recently granted a $1,000 seed grant from The Pollination Project Foundation and we are actively seeking more funding.