The field of animal welfare science is developing rapidly. Understanding the emerging frontiers of welfare science helps advocates prepare for the next generation of welfare challenges and opportunities.
Animal welfare science is at an inflection point. Traditional welfare assessment focused on absence of suffering (the Five Freedoms) is being supplemented by active pursuit of positive welfare states. Neuroscience is providing new tools for assessing emotional states in non-verbal animals. Precision monitoring technologies are enabling continuous welfare assessment at commercial scale. And the boundaries of moral consideration are expanding to include previously neglected species — invertebrates, fish, and potentially the vast populations of wild animals. The next generation of welfare science will need to address these expanding frontiers while maintaining rigorous standards for evidence and ethical reasoning.