Gene Baur with Ari calf at Farm Sanctuary.

Gene Baur

Gene Baur with Ari calf at Farm Sanctuary.

The Conscience of the Food Movement

A pioneer in the field of undercover investigations and farm animal rescue, Gene has visited hundreds of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses, documenting the deplorable conditions. His pictures and videos exposing factory farming cruelties have aired nationally and internationally, educating millions about the plight of modern farm animals, and his rescue work inspired an international farm sanctuary movement.

Gene was instrumental in passing the first U.S. laws prohibiting inhumane animal confinement and continues working on systemic food industry reforms. His work has been covered by major media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, the New York Times, LA Times, and Wall Street Journal among others.

Gene Baur has been hailed as “the conscience of the food movement” by Time magazine and named one of Oprah Winfrey’s SuperSoul 100 Givers.

“This lifestyle is not about deprivation. It’s about living inspired.”
- Gene Baur

Critically-Acclaimed Books

Book cover for Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds about Animals and Food

Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food

In his first book, Gene examines the real cost of the meat on our plates—for both humans and animals alike—in this provocative and thorough examination of the modern farm industry.

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Book cover of Living the Farm Sanctuary Life: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Mindfully, Living Longer, and Feeling Better Every Day

Living the Farm Sanctuary Life: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Mindfully, Living Longer, and Feeling Better Every Day

In this definitive vegan and animal-friendly lifestyle guide, Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur and Gene Stone, author of Forks Over Knives, explore the deeply transformative experience of living day-to-day in harmony with your basic values.

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“Filled with hope, this book is written for all who strive for a more compassionate world.”
– Dr. Jane Goodall, on Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food

Thought Leadership

Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder Gene Baur's Media Reel
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Transcript

A growing number of leaders urge President Xi to completely shut down their wet markets. Joining us now to discuss this issue is Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, Gene Baur.


So what should we do as a country? What should the world community do?


Here in the United States, we are confining billions of animals in these factory farming warehouses every year, which are a breeding ground for disease. It's a global problem and it all stems from the way we interact with other animals. When we interact in mutually beneficial, compassionate ways, it's good for everybody.


OK. You know, I have to say I started this segment thinking this guy's probably crazy, but I think you're actually reasonable and thoughtful.


He is the President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary. His new book is called Living the Farm Sanctuary Life: The Ultimate Guide to Eating Mindfully, Living Longer and Doing Better Everyday. Please welcome to the program, Mr. Gene Baur. Sir!


Please welcome to our home, our kitchen, Moby and Gene Baur.


I'm delighted to have Gene Baur here today. He is the President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.


Time Magazine calls our next guest the conscience of the food movement.


Gene Baur is an animal activist, an athlete and a 1,000% vegan.


With me tonight, Gene Baur, who is the President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.


Here with us now, President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, Gene Baur.


Gene Baur has been the polite guy in this debate, so far.


They just want it--


And you do get points for that but, come on.


Well, in terms of the science, there is the China study which The New York Times called the Grand Prix of Epidemiology done by Colin Campbell, a biochemist at Cornell University.


We started in 1986 actually investigating factory farms and finding living animals that were thrown in trashcans, or living animals from a house of dead animals. And so we just started rescuing them.


It's harder to eat meat when you know the animal's name.


So true.


I have found.


So true.


For me, it's really about living as compassionately as possible, not participating in unnecessary suffering. And if we can live well without causing harm to other animals, why wouldn't we?


I agree-- you know what? I agree with you. I'm just going to say that I agree with you completely there.


You know, these are living, feeling creatures. Just like cats or dogs, they have relationships with other animals. They have relationships with people.


We're in the midst now of an awareness that we need to change our food system.


Industrial animal factory store this manure in these open cesspools, and oftentimes, it gets in the groundwater. It gets into surface water. It's tragic if you think about the health problems that we suffer from, and we could eliminate 70% of health care costs by shifting to a whole food plant-based diet.


How are we going to do it if we don't raise food for billions of people in these controlled situations?


Well, the most efficient way, really, to feed our world is by growing plants instead of animals.


You're saying that we shouldn't be cruel to animals, and I agree with you completely. And I hope other conservatives would pause and think about it, because I think a lot of them would agree.


Taxpayers subsidize this cheap factory farming food, so the factory farming system is actually quite costly when you look at all the various consequences of it.


Half of the water used in this country is used to raise animals for food.


Gene, thank you so much for coming on. I know you've just scratched the surface of what's there, so we'll find out more from your book.

 

  • Morning Joe Header

    MSNBC Morning Joe

    Pressure builds on China as calls to close wet markets grow

    Watch the Segment
  • Coronavirus_Getty

    The Hill

    Coronavirus and the karmic interconnectedness of humans, animals

    Read the Article
  • Cows are milked at Seven Oaks Dairy in Waynesboro, Ga., in March. (Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post)

    The Washington Post

    The best way to help dairy farmers is to get them out of dairy farming

    Read the Article
  • Tucker Carlson

    Tucker Carlson Tonight

    “I don’t like the way factory farms treat animals,” says Tucker Carlson

    Watch the Segment
  • In this 2014, photo, a gang of Broad Breasted Whites roam their paddock before they are harvested for Thanksgiving at Violet Hill Farm, in West Winfield, N.Y. (John Minchillo/AP)

    New York Daily News

    This Thanksgiving, even turkeys deserve a break.

    Read the Article
Gene Baur speaking.

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Gene Baur speaking.

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Connie sheep at Farm Sanctuary

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