One Welfare: Linking Animal and Human Welfare

The One Welfare framework recognises that animal welfare, human welfare, and environmental health are interconnected; this integrated perspective informs more effective and holistic welfare policy.

Key Facts

Farmer mental health and animal welfare outcomes are positively correlated on livestock farms
Communities with better animal welfare standards tend to have better human health outcomes
Environmental degradation from intensive animal production affects both animal and human welfare
One Welfare Scotland has developed policy frameworks integrating animal and human wellbeing

Welfare Considerations

The One Welfare framework challenges the tendency to address animal welfare, human welfare, and environmental health as separate policy domains. In reality, these are deeply interconnected: farmer wellbeing affects the quality of animal care; the welfare of working animals directly affects the livelihoods of millions of people in developing countries; intensive animal production systems that compromise animal welfare often also compromise environmental and community health. Policy that addresses these connections holistically achieves better outcomes than siloed interventions.

What You Can Do

Support One Welfare policy approaches that address human and animal welfare together
Engage with the farm mental health agenda as part of animal welfare advocacy
Raise awareness that animal welfare, human welfare, and environmental health are interdependent systems