Labour Trafficking in Agriculture: Ethical Impacts

David Bell
Aug 2
9 min read

Updated: Aug 6

Labour trafficking in agriculture is a severe issue affecting millions globally. Workers, often migrants or children, are coerced into unsafe, low-paid, or unpaid roles through threats and deceit. This exploitation not only violates human rights but also undermines consumer trust and harms the planet. Key points include:

Scale of the problem: Over 50 million people were trapped in modern slavery in 2021, with agriculture being one of the worst-affected sectors.
Worker abuse: Migrants and children face wage theft, unsafe conditions, and physical threats.
Consumer concerns: Many unknowingly support forced labour through everyday purchases.
Environmental damage: Exploitative farming practices contribute to deforestation and high carbon emissions.

Emerging solutions like cultivated meat offer alternatives. This approach reduces reliance on exploitative labour, improves working conditions, and significantly lowers resource use. While challenges like cost and scalability remain, it presents a path toward fairer and safer food production.

The choice is stark: continue supporting harmful practices or embrace ethical models that prioritise human dignity and environmental care.

1. Industrial Agriculture with Labour Trafficking

Industrial agriculture heavily depends on cheap labour, creating an environment ripe for exploitation. The sector's informal nature and limited oversight make it particularly vulnerable to trafficking practices [1]. In the United States, around 86% of agricultural jobs are filled by foreign-born workers, with 45% of them undocumented – a combination that leaves many open to abuse [7].

Globally, industries like agriculture, fishing, and forestry report some of the highest rates of forced labour [9]. Traffickers use tactics such as force, fraud, and coercion to trap workers into exploitative conditions [2]. What might start as subtle mistreatment can quickly escalate into full-scale trafficking.

Impact on Workers

Labour trafficking in agriculture exposes workers to widespread abuse. Wage theft is rampant, with illegal fees, unpaid hours, and a lack of basic rights like minimum wage, overtime pay, workplace safety, and union representation [6].

The physical toll is equally harsh. Workers endure extreme conditions, including sexual harassment, violence, and unsanitary living quarters, issues often overlooked by authorities [6]. Traffickers maintain control through threats, violence, and confinement, exploiting workers' vulnerabilities [2].

Migrant workers, particularly those with H-2A visas, are at heightened risk. Reports of likely trafficking among these workers have risen by over 70% [12]. Language barriers, unfamiliarity with local laws, and precarious immigration statuses make them easy targets for exploitation.

Child labour further deepens this issue. One-third of detected trafficking victims are children [8], and the number of child labourers globally has increased by an estimated 8.4 million in just four years [1]. These children are robbed of education, a safe childhood, and basic dignity as they are forced into hazardous agricultural work. Such abuses not only devastate individual lives but also erode trust in the ethical standards of the food industry.

Impact on Consumers

Labour trafficking in agriculture also affects consumers, as it undermines trust in the food supply chain. Many unknowingly support forced labour through their purchases [4]. The U.S. Department of Labour lists 159 goods from 78 countries – including sugar cane, coffee, tobacco, and fish – as being linked to forced labour [4].

Even products marketed as ethical may not be free of exploitation due to the complexity of global supply chains. For instance, around two-thirds of the world's cocoa comes from West Africa, where more than 2 million children are involved in hazardous labour, according to a 2015 report by the U.S. Labour Department [10].

Fair trade certifications are not always a guarantee of slavery-free production, and items like processed fruits and vegetables – including canned or frozen products – often involve exploitative practices [10]. However, consumers can use their purchasing power and advocacy to demand more ethical supply chains [4].

Impact on the Environment

The consequences of labour trafficking extend beyond human rights and consumer trust, significantly affecting the environment. Industrial agriculture tied to exploitation contributes to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and water pollution. Agriculture alone is responsible for 13% of global carbon dioxide emissions, 44% of methane, and 81% of nitrous oxide from human activities [11].

When workers are forced to prioritise immediate production over sustainable practices, the environmental damage intensifies [1]. Siobhán Mullally, UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, highlights this connection:

"The growth of agribusiness and the power of corporations, combined with the rapid pace of climate change have further exacerbated risks of trafficking in persons" [1].

Climate change itself creates additional vulnerabilities. Natural disasters and climate-driven migration increase the risk of trafficking, as displaced agricultural communities face heightened pressures and fewer protections [1]. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, these challenges are likely to grow, leaving already vulnerable populations even more exposed to exploitation.

2. Ethical Food Production Models (e.g., Cultivated Meat by The Cultivarian Society)

As the ethical challenges of conventional agriculture come into focus, alternative food production methods are stepping up as promising solutions. These emerging models aim to create food systems that prioritise fairness for workers, reduce environmental harm, and address ethical concerns around animal welfare. One such breakthrough is cultivated meat, championed by organisations like The Cultivarian Society. This approach offers a way to produce real meat without the need for animal slaughter, tackling issues like unsafe labour conditions, environmental damage, and the ethical treatment of animals.

Impact on Workers

Switching from traditional meat production to cultivated meat has the potential to transform working conditions in the industry. Conventional meat processing is notoriously hazardous. For example, in Brazil, working in cattle slaughterhouses ranks as the fourth most dangerous job, with high rates of occupational accidents [13]. Cultivated meat production could eliminate the need for such risky roles. As R10, Vice President of Product & Market Development at a cultivated meat start-up, put it:

"We don't need people who slaughter cows. They'll do other things, but they won't kill cows for us anymore" [13].

This shift would pave the way for safer, higher-skilled jobs. R34, Director of Public Policy at an NGO focused on sustainable food production, highlighted this point:

"Working in an alternative meat factory will be much better than working in a slaughterhouse" [13].

Beyond physical safety, it also removes the psychological toll associated with animal slaughter [14]. However, making this transition a reality requires significant investment in retraining, as traditional meat production currently employs a large workforce [13][14]. A Brazilian government official from the Ministry of Agriculture expressed optimism about this transformation:

"Every technology and every innovation always bring with them an increase in the quality of labour" [13].

Impact on Consumers

Cultivated meat directly addresses growing consumer demand for ethically sourced food while maintaining the authentic cellular structure of conventional meat [16]. Its production in controlled environments also minimises the risks of foodborne illnesses and contamination [17]. The sector is gaining momentum, with investments in European cultured meat companies rising by 30% to £100 million in 2022 [17].

Impact on the Environment

The environmental advantages of cultivated meat are hard to ignore. Compared to traditional European meat production, cultivated meat uses 7–45% less energy, slashes greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96%, reduces land use by 99%, and cuts water consumption by 82–96% [15]. With minimal land requirements, it helps combat deforestation [16]. Additionally, it is projected to be up to 5.8 times more efficient in converting raw materials into meat compared to conventional methods [17].

These figures highlight the potential of cultivated meat to reshape the food industry into one that is more ethical, sustainable, and forward-thinking.

Pros and Cons

Looking at industrial agriculture alongside labour trafficking and ethical food production models reveals stark differences in their impacts on workers, consumers, and the environment.

Industrial agriculture is built around cost-cutting. According to the International Labour Organisation, forced labour involves situations where people are "coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as accumulated debt, retention of identity papers, or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities" [5]. While this system keeps food prices low for consumers, it comes at a steep human cost. In the United States, 62% of the forced labour risk within the food supply originates from domestic production or processing, with meat, poultry, and eggs accounting for 28% of this risk [5].

The environmental toll is equally alarming. Modern slavery significantly contributes to climate change - if it were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide globally [19]. Exploitative practices also harm ecosystems, as evidenced by mangrove deforestation and mercury-contaminated gold mining [19].

On the other hand, ethical food production models, such as cultivated meat developed by The Cultivarian Society, focus on worker safety, environmental responsibility, and animal welfare. When cultivated meat is produced using renewable energy, it can slash the carbon footprint of beef by up to 92%, pork by 44%, and land use by as much as 90%, compared to traditional beef production [20]. As Bill Gates explains in :

Cultivated meat has all the same fat, muscles, and tendons as any animal... All this can be done with little or no greenhouse gas emissions, aside from the electricity you need to power the [plants] where the process is done [20].

However, these ethical models aren't without hurdles. Cultivated meat currently has a less favourable energy balance compared to conventional meat, and its high production costs make it challenging to scale up [18]. Consumer attitudes also vary - while 17% of UK respondents in a 2023 survey showed interest in lab-grown meat, only 9% of respondents in France felt the same way [18].

Aspect	Industrial Agriculture with Labour Trafficking	Ethical Food Production Models
Worker Impact	Exploitation, dangerous conditions, and forced labour	Focus on worker safety and reduced hazards linked to slaughter
Consumer Costs	Lower prices driven by exploited labour	Higher initial costs, with potential reductions over time
Environmental Impact	High carbon emissions and ecosystem destruction	Up to 92% lower carbon footprint and 90% less land use
Market Readiness	Established and widely accepted	Emerging technology with scaling and acceptance challenges

This comparison highlights the broader economic and ethical stakes of each model. Beyond immediate costs, there’s a growing emphasis on ethical practices. Eleanor Harrison, the incoming head of the Fairtrade Foundation, points out that "being seen to be a good and sustainable employer is really important" in today’s markets [21]. The Fairtrade Foundation's UK income rose by over 5% in 2023, reaching £13.4 million, reflecting increasing consumer interest in ethical options, even amid rising living costs [21].

Conclusion

Labour trafficking in agriculture impacts workers, consumers, and the planet in deeply troubling ways. With an estimated 50 million people trapped in modern slavery worldwide and human trafficking generating illicit profits of $236 billion (around £190 billion) annually[4], the scale of this issue calls for urgent and collective action.

As discussed earlier, addressing these challenges requires systemic reform. Governments, businesses, consumers, and workers must collaborate to tackle structural weaknesses - such as those in the H‑2A visa programme - and ensure robust enforcement of laws against practices like force, fraud, and coercion[23][4].

Consumers are increasingly making choices that reflect their values, pushing for change through conscious purchasing decisions. This growing awareness encourages people to support products that align with ethical labour practices and sustainability goals[22][3].

Emerging solutions, such as cultivated meat initiatives led by organisations like The Cultivarian Society, offer a glimpse of what the future could hold. These innovations not only address ethical concerns but also have the potential to reshape agricultural employment. For instance, 87.5% of survey respondents believe that cultivated meat activities could create new, higher-skilled jobs, moving away from exploitative manual labour[14]. The Cultivarian Society’s vision of producing real meat without slaughter exemplifies how technology can balance ethical considerations with food security.

While change won’t happen overnight, there is growing momentum. By combining policy changes, consumer advocacy, and technological advancements, we can build a food system that upholds human rights, protects the environment, and ensures dignity for agricultural workers.

The choice is clear: continue supporting exploitative practices or work towards a future where food production is fair, ethical, and sustainable.

FAQs

How can I make sure my food purchases don’t support forced labour?

To help combat the risk of forced labour, opt for products from companies that emphasise ethical practices. Seek out brands that carry out regular audits of their supply chains and comply with recognised standards such as Fair Trade or SA8000. Choosing businesses that are open about their sourcing and production methods is equally important.

Additionally, you can push for stronger regulations and back the adoption of new technologies that enhance supply chain accountability. By making thoughtful purchasing decisions and supporting ethically driven brands, consumers can contribute significantly to tackling labour exploitation in agriculture.

What are the key obstacles to making cultivated meat affordable and scalable in the UK?

The journey towards making cultivated meat affordable and widely available is riddled with challenges. One of the biggest hurdles? The steep production costs. These are primarily driven by the high price of growth factors and culture media, which together make up more than 90% of the total expenses. On top of that, scaling up bioreactor technology and maintaining strict contamination control add layers of complexity and demand further technological improvements.

Although recent advancements have hinted at the possibility of reducing production costs to around £5 per pound, there’s still a long way to go before cultivated meat becomes an affordable option for households across the UK and beyond. Tackling these obstacles is key to positioning cultivated meat as an ethical and practical alternative to traditional farming methods.

How does labour trafficking in agriculture harm the environment and worsen climate change?

Labour trafficking in agriculture has a damaging ripple effect on the environment. It often fuels destructive practices like deforestation, soil degradation, and pollution. These actions not only devastate local ecosystems but also release greenhouse gases, adding to the challenges of climate change.

On the flip side, climate change itself exacerbates the issue. Extreme weather events and climate-related disasters can leave already vulnerable communities even more exposed to exploitation. Trafficked workers are often pushed into unsafe conditions and forced to engage in activities that harm the environment, creating a vicious cycle of exploitation and ecological damage.

Tackling labour trafficking in agriculture is crucial - not just to uphold human rights but also to safeguard the planet. By addressing this issue, we can work towards a food system that is both ethical and environmentally responsible.