Agricultural education shapes the attitudes and practices of the next generation of farmers. Embedding animal welfare science in curricula has lasting impacts on farming systems.
Agricultural education is a leverage point for systemic change. Research shows that farmers who received welfare training at college are significantly more likely to adopt higher welfare practices and comply with welfare legislation. Conversely, normalisation of poor welfare in training environments perpetuates harmful practices across careers spanning 40+ years. Embedding Five Freedoms and Five Domains frameworks, animal behaviour science, and welfare economics into core curricula — not optional modules — represents a high-impact intervention point.