The TransFARMation Project® is thrilled to announce the launch of its North Carolina demonstration hub on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at 509 Concord Church Road in Wadesboro at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
The newly transformed facility, formerly used for raising an estimated 540,000 chickens per year, is now a beacon of sustainable agriculture. In collaboration with the Transfarmation™ team, property owners Tom and Sokchea Lim have converted a poultry barn into a state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot greenhouse.
The revitalized hub will be a vibrant vegetable farm and research center dedicated to developing and showcasing sustainable alternatives for former chicken farmers.
Transitioning from factory farming to specialty-crop production has profound environmental benefits:
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: Specialty-crop farming generates much less greenhouse gas than factory animal farming, aiding in climate-change mitigation.
Soil remediation: Farm transitions offer opportunities to revitalize degraded soil and improve soil health, which can help protect ecosystems and foster biodiversity.
Water conservation: Specialty-crop farming uses water more efficiently than factory animal farming, addressing issues of excessive water consumption and pollution.
"This transformation is more than a new beginning for our farm; it is also a source of hope for a better, more sustainable future," said Tom Lim, a former poultry farmer who faced financial challenges after the abrupt termination of his contract in 2018. "With the support of Transfarmation™, we are moving toward a more environmentally friendly and economically viable way of farming."
The demonstration hub's opening marks a significant milestone for The TransFARMation Project®. The team has worked tirelessly for over three years to bring their vision to life and facilitate transitions from factory animal farming to specialty crop production.
The hub will serve multiple functions:
Research center: be a focal point for research in sustainable agricultural practices.
Visitor space: host people interested in exploring alternatives to factory farming.
Showcase for farmers: provide a platform for other farmers to develop and exhibit viable and sustainable agricultural opportunities.
Public events venue: offer a firsthand look at the transformative potential of farm transitions.
"Tom and Sokchea's transition from raising more than 540,000 chickens annually to operating a vibrant vegetable farm full of tomatoes, lettuce, berries, and mushrooms is a powerful testament to what can be achieved," said Tyler Whitley, director of Transfarmation™. "Through their collaboration with Transfarmation™, the Lims prove that farmers can break free from the exploitative factory-farming system, as well as thrive and enjoy a better quality of life. We hope their farm becomes a beacon of inspiration, motivating farmers, policymakers, and the public to visit, witness the transformation firsthand, and advocate a sustainable overhaul of our food system."
The launch of the North Carolina demonstration hub precedes the highly anticipated release of the new book by Transfarmation™ founder Leah Garcés, "Transfarmation: The Movement to Free Us from Factory Farming," on Sept. 17.
For more information:
mercyforanimals.org
thetransfarmationproject.org/