Animal Welfare in the Global Food System

Understanding animal welfare in the context of global food systems reveals the scale of the challenge and the levers for change.

Key Facts

Approximately 80 billion land animals and 1-2 trillion fish are killed in food systems annually
75% of global agricultural land supports animal farming producing 18% of calories
Animal agriculture accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
The shift to higher-welfare production systems requires market, policy, and consumer drivers
Corporate food company pledges can shift welfare standards for billions of animals simultaneously

Welfare Considerations

The scale of animal farming in global food systems means that welfare improvement requires systemic change, not just individual consumer action. Market signals from consumers matter but are insufficient alone — policy frameworks, corporate procurement standards, and supply chain requirements are more powerful levers. Understanding the global food system reveals both the size of the welfare challenge and the points of greatest leverage. Corporate pledges, regulatory reform, and technology development can change welfare outcomes for billions of animals.

What You Can Do

Engage with food system advocacy beyond individual consumer choices
Support organisations working on corporate food company welfare commitments
Advocate for animal welfare standards in trade policy to prevent welfare arbitrage
Learn about the global food system and where welfare improvements would have greatest impact
Combine personal food choices with engagement in systemic advocacy for maximum impact