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Micarna Mega-Slaughterhouse Endangers the Water Supply of the Broye Region
no name given ·
Greenpeace Schweiz ·
2026-08-26
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Justice · carrying
The planned Micarna slaughterhouse in St-Aubin is not suited to its location because its high water consumption would further strain the already scarce water resources of the Broye region and compete with other uses.
These figures show us once again that this mega-slaughterhouse is not suited to its location. Migros is planning it in a region where water is already scarce in summer.
The text analyses the planned water consumption of the Micarna slaughterhouse in St-Aubin and places it in the context of the current water scarcity in the Broye region. It argues that the daily requirement of around 1.4 million litres of water would compete with other uses such as ecosystems and agriculture. Migros is portrayed as contradictory, as it on the one hand supports farmers during droughts and on the other hand pushes forward a water-intensive project. The text refers to the high water consumption of industrial chicken production and the high proportion of imported feed. An expert from Greenpeace Switzerland is quoted, who describes the project as not suited to its location. It is demanded that Migros sell at least 60 percent plant-based proteins by 2035 and renounce the slaughterhouse. The complaint against the building permit is presented as legally justified, and compliance with the applicable law is demanded.
- What, according to this text, is the root of the evil?
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Greed, consumption, an insatiable desire for more; Ignorance, illusion, a false view of reality (inferred)
- Where does the evil reside?
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in the economy, politics, or social structures
- What helps against it?
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contentment, fasting, voluntary sacrifice, letting go; keeping the commandments, maintaining order, fulfiling one's duties
- What is human being according to this text?
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self-determined, the author of one's own actions
- Where is history heading?
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it is getting worse, an order is coming to an end
- What does the text base its claim on?
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on argument, logic, science; on personal experience, testimony, encounter (inferred)
- To whom does the text's call for devotion apply?
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also to animals, plants, and all of creation
- Where is the text's criticism directed?
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at others, at society, at other groups
Related texts from other traditions
by similarity of the analysis, one text per tradition
What the text calls for
- Auf den Mega-Schlachthof verzichten (social)
- Mindestens 60 Prozent pflanzliche Proteine verkaufen (social)
- Petition unterschreiben (social)
Measured
- Basic stance
- -1 from -2 to 2
- Insistence
- 2 of 3
- Reach
- 4 of 5
- Concreteness
- 3 of 3
- Boundary
- 1 of 3, named: Migros / industrielle Tierproduktion
- Time
- past 0, present 3, future 2
Analysed with qwen3.8-27b, version v3.
The same standards apply to every tradition, see Values.
Full text in English
While the Freiburg Cantonal Court is still reviewing the appeals against the building permit for the Micarna slaughterhouse, we are publishing an analysis of the water consumption of the planned slaughterhouse. Migros is acting inconsistently. The retail giant announces that it will support farmers with two million Swiss francs due to the extreme drought. At the same time, the planned slaughterhouse in St-Aubin will require approximately 1.4 million liters of water per day. Industrial animal production, with its climate and environmental impacts, is part of Migros’s business model.
In the Broye region, water is already partially scarce under normal conditions. Due to the heatwaves and the extreme drought this summer, the Canton of Freiburg has implemented a series of measures to restrict water consumption. This situation is likely to recur in the future. A gigantic slaughterhouse in St-Aubin would further exacerbate the water scarcity in the municipality and the region. A considerable amount of water is required to slaughter more than 30 million chickens per year: 1.4 million liters per day. At such a volume, the Migros project would compete with other forms of water use, such as ecosystems or agriculture.
"These figures show us once again that this mega-slaughterhouse is not suited to its location. Migros is planning it in a region where water is already scarce in summer. Moreover, the conditions for industrial chicken production in Switzerland are not met – almost 80 percent of the feed for broiler chickens must be imported. In addition: To produce one kilogram of chicken meat, an average of 4,300 liters of water is required. For one kilogram of grain, it is 1,600 liters, and for vegetables, 322 liters," explains Sera Pantillon, expert on consumption and nutrition at Greenpeace Switzerland. "We would all benefit from a food system that conserves our water resources."
If Migros truly wants to "take responsibility," it must sell at least 60 percent plant-based proteins by 2035 and forgo its mega-slaughterhouse. The appeal against the building permit, which we filed last May jointly with EcoTransition La Broye, the Greens of La Broye, and residents, is currently still being reviewed by the Freiburg Cantonal Court. According to the appeal, the project violates several laws, particularly in the areas of water, climate, and nature protection. We demand that the current law be upheld to protect residents and the environment.
More plant-based proteins
Yes, I want at least 60% of the proteins sold to be plant-based by 2035.
Sign the petition
Full text in the original
Während das Kantonsgericht Freiburg die Beschwerden gegen die Baubewilligung für den Micarna-Schlachthof noch prüft, veröffentlichen wir eine Analyse zum Wasserverbrauch des geplanten Schlachthofs. Die Migros agiert widersprüchlich. Der Detailhandelriese kündigt an, die Landwirt:innen aufgrund der extremen Trockenheit mit zwei Millionen Franken zu unterstützen. Zugleich wird der geplante Schlachthof in St-Aubin täglich rund 1,4 Millionen Liter Wasser benötigen. Die industrielle Tierproduktion mit ihren Klima- und Umweltauswirkungen ist Teil des Geschäftsmodells der Migros.
In der Broye-Region ist das Wasser bereits unter normalen Umständen teilweise knapp. Aufgrund der Hitzewellen und der extremen Trockenheit dieses Sommers, hat der Kanton Freiburg eine ganze Reihe von Massnahmen ergriffen, die den Wasserverbrauch einschränken. Diese Situation dürfte sich in Zukunft wiederholen. Ein gigantischer Schlachthof in St-Aubin würde die Wasserknappheit der Gemeinde und der Region noch verschärfen. Es braucht eine beträchtliche Menge Wasser, um mehr als 30 Millionen Hühner pro Jahr zu schlachten: 1,4 Millionen Liter pro Tag. Bei einem solchen Volumen wird das Migros-Projekt andere Arten der Wassernutzung konkurrenzieren, etwa Ökosysteme oder die Landwirtschaft.
«Diese Zahlen zeigen uns einmal mehr, dass dieser Mega-Schlachthof nicht standortangepasst ist. Die Migros plant ihn in einer Region, in der das Wasser im Sommer ohnehin bereits knapp ist. Zudem sind die Bedingungen für die industrielle Poulet-Produktion in der Schweiz nicht gegeben – fast 80 Prozent der Futtermittel für Masthühner müssen importiert werden. Hinzu kommt: Um ein Kilogramm Hühnerfleisch zu produzieren, braucht es durchschnittlich 4’300 Liter Wasser. Für ein Kilo Getreide sind es 1’600 Liter und für Gemüse 322 Liter», erklärt Sera Pantillon, Expertin für Konsum und Ernährung bei Greenpeace Schweiz. «Wir alle würden von einem Ernährungssystem profitieren, das unsere Wasserressourcen schont.»
Wenn die Migros wirklich « Verantwortung übernehmen » will, muss sie bis 2035 mindestens 60 Prozent pflanzliche Proteine verkaufen und auf ihren Mega-Schlachthof verzichten. Die Beschwerde gegen die Baubewilligung, die wir im vergangenen Mai gemeinsam mit EcoTransition La Broye, den Grünen von La Broye und Anwohner:innen eingereicht hat, prüft das Kantonsgericht Freiburg aktuell noch. Das Projekt verstösst gemäss Beschwerde gegen mehrere Gesetze, insbesondere in den Bereichen Gewässer-, Klima- und Naturschutz. Wir fordern, dass das geltende Recht zum Schutz der Anwohner:innen und der Umwelt eingehalten wird.
Mehr pflanzliche Proteine
Ja, ich will, dass bis 2035 mindestens 60% der verkauften Proteine pflanzlich sind.
Petition unterschreiben