“Chicken reforms and veg advocacy may contribute to the Small Animal Replacement Problem -- it’s not just environmental strategies” by Jim Buhler

Recognizing the small animal replacement problem (SARP) led many animal advocates to, broadly, warn against strategies to help animals that build upon environmental and/or health arguments (see, e.g., Carpendale 2022; Sokk 2021; Bryant 2024; Hazo 2022; Ozden & Dullaghan 2022). More specifically, this includes strategies such as advocating against red meat consumption (see Mathur 2022; CE Team 2018; Rouk 2022) or against subsidies for meat and other animal products (Ryba 2022), and pushing for a food carbon tax (Zeijlmans 2025; Springlea 2022).

EA-inspired animal advocates therefore strongly favor strategies such as promoting plant-based alternatives to animal products and reforming the chicken farming industry (see, e.g., OPP's farm animal welfare page; Sarek et al. 2024; ACE 2024), assuming these do not contribute to SARP.[1] This post very briefly questions this assumption. (Don’t expect a detailed argumentation. I’m just throwing some thoughts.)

Why veg advocacy might also contribute to SARP

Humane [...]

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Outline:

(01:29) Why veg advocacy might also contribute to SARP

(02:11) Why chicken reforms might also contribute to SARP

(02:52) Conclusion

The original text contained 2 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:

June 3rd, 2025

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/zdFFnm8fWqPY8zsa4/chicken-reforms-and-veg-advocacy-may-contribute-to-the-small

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.