Josh Balk on using shareholder activism to win change from the world’s largest food companies
Oct 18, 2023
01:08:32
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Josh Balk discusses using shareholder activism to drive change in major food companies, highlighting successes like Prop 12 in California. He also talks about the importance of political engagement for animal welfare legislation and the shift towards more humane treatment in the food industry. The podcast explores the global impact of shareholder activism and the role of attorneys in navigating legal challenges. Campaigning for ballot measure success and driving change through strategic activism are key topics discussed.
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Quick takeaways
Shareholder activism pushes food companies to adopt animal-friendly practices.
Passing and maintaining stringent animal welfare laws like Proposition 12 requires battling misinformation and doubt.
The Accountability Board aims to create lasting impact by engaging with companies worldwide through shareholder activism.
Deep dives
Innovative Shareholder Activism for Animal Advocacy
Josh Guock, in his efforts with the Accountability Board, implements a unique strategy of shareholder activism to push large food companies using animal products to make positive changes. By buying shares in these companies, the Accountability Board influences them to transition to more animal-friendly practices, such as going cage-free and reducing animal confinement.
Challenges of Passing and Upholding Animal Welfare Laws
Josh highlights the challenges faced in passing and maintaining stringent animal welfare laws like Proposition 12. The intense campaigning required to overcome opposition from animal agribusiness involves battling misinformation and instilling doubt in voters' minds. Despite the arduous process, Proposition 12 in California emerged as the strongest law globally, banning the confinement of animals and the sale of products from caged animals.
Long-Term Commitment to Global Animal Welfare
The Accountability Board's approach focuses on ongoing engagement with companies beyond short-term initiatives. By strategically investing in various food corporations worldwide, the Board aims to create lasting change in animal welfare standards. Through legal expertise and shareholder activism, the team navigates complex regulatory frameworks, ensuring companies honor their commitments and improve conditions for animals globally.
Proposition 12 Initiative and Its Impact on Animal Welfare in California
The discussion delves into the significance of Proposition 12, highlighting its emphasis on the sale of animal products rather than just production. The initiative challenged the conventional approach by focusing on consumption, aligning with preceding moves in Massachusetts regarding the sale of related products. It successfully affected over 50 million egg-laying hens annually in California, prompting a significant shift in pig farming practices, especially in eliminating gestation crates.
Challenges and Strategies in Animal Welfare Advocacy
The conversation transitions into analyzing the opposition's efforts to counter initiatives like Proposition 12. The Eats Act emerges as a federal legislation aimed at nullifying state laws on animal welfare standards, posing a substantial threat to existing regulations. Advocates emphasize the need for bipartisan support to combat such challenges, urging a united front across political divides for sustained progress. The importance of strategizing politically, engaging with local representatives, and fostering diverse alliances to navigate forthcoming obstacles in animal rights advocacy is underscored.
In this episode, we speak with Josh Balk who is the co-founder and CEO of The Accountability Board. Previously, he was vice president of farm animal protection for The Humane Society of the United States. In addition, he is a co-founder of EAT JUST, a food technology company.
We spoke to him about a promising new strategy that he’s trying out, which is shareholder activism. In a nutshell, that involves doing something that seems counterintuitive, buying shares in the largest food companies that use animals as products, and trying to get them to change. On top of that, we also speak about the successes he’s had through ballot initiatives in the US. such as prop 12 in California, the EATS act, and US politics more generally.
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