Food Systems

Supply Chain Transparency and Animal Welfare

Complex global supply chains obscure animal welfare conditions; transparency initiatives help consumers and companies understand and improve welfare.

Key Facts

Major retailers may source from thousands of farms with unknown welfare conditions
Third-party audit programs visit farms to assess and score welfare outcomes
QR code traceability systems can link products to specific farm welfare records
Supply chain transparency is growing under consumer and regulatory pressure

Welfare Considerations

Global food supply chains separate consumers from the welfare conditions of animals used in their food. Long supply chains with multiple intermediaries make it difficult for retailers to know, let alone verify, welfare standards at farm level. Transparency initiatives including farm-to-fork traceability, independent welfare auditing, and public reporting create accountability that drives welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support retailers committed to supply chain welfare transparency
Ask brands about their welfare auditing and supplier monitoring programs
Advocate for mandatory supply chain traceability in food welfare regulation
Use QR code traceability when available to access farm welfare information