Technology-based welfare auditing is transforming the ability to monitor farm animal welfare at scale and with greater consistency than traditional inspection approaches.
Traditional spot-check welfare auditing has fundamental limitations: it captures conditions on the day of inspection, which may not represent typical conditions, and relies on individual inspector judgement that varies between assessors. Technology-based auditing addresses these limitations through continuous monitoring, standardised automated assessment, and data trails that cannot be manipulated for inspections. The welfare benefits of technology-based auditing include earlier detection of problems, more consistent assessment standards, and genuine accountability through supply chain data transparency. The primary barriers are cost, data privacy, and farmer acceptance, which can be addressed through appropriate design and incentive structures.