Animal Welfare and Food Security: Finding Common Ground

Improving animal welfare in food production systems need not come at the expense of food security — and in many cases the two goals are complementary.

Key Facts

Higher welfare farming often produces less food per hectare but with lower inputs and environmental impact
The EAT-Lancet Commission recommends a food system compatible with high welfare and planetary health
Food waste reduction could liberate enough food to compensate for lower yields from higher welfare systems
In low-income countries, healthy livestock are critical to food security for farming communities
Mobile poultry units and pasture-based systems can improve welfare while maintaining productivity in some contexts
Agricultural subsidy reform could realign incentives toward welfare-positive food production systems

Welfare Considerations

The argument that animal welfare improvement threatens food security is often overstated and used to resist reform. In practice, improving the welfare of farmed animals frequently improves health outcomes, reduces antibiotic dependence, and can maintain productivity. Reducing food waste and shifting diets in wealthy countries toward less animal-intensive patterns creates space for welfare improvements without threatening global food supply.

What You Can Do

Support agricultural subsidy reform that rewards welfare alongside environmental outcomes
Reduce food waste in your household and advocate for systemic food waste reduction
Engage with food security advocates to find common ground on animal welfare and sustainable diets
Support research into high welfare farming systems that maintain productivity
Advocate for food policy that addresses welfare and food security as complementary rather than competing goals