Global Animal Welfare Progress: Evidence and Trends

Tracking global animal welfare progress requires examining legislation, corporate commitments, scientific advances, and changing consumer attitudes across multiple countries and species.

Key Facts

Over 60 countries now have comprehensive animal welfare legislation covering farmed species — up from fewer than 20 in 1990
The cage-free transition in corporate egg supply chains has expanded from 5% to over 40% of US food company commitments since 2015
The Better Chicken Commitment has been adopted by over 200 major food companies globally since 2016
Global plant-based food sales have grown substantially since 2019, with meat alternatives available in 95% of major retail markets
The EU Farm to Fork Strategy sets targets for reducing factory farming and antibiotic use with timeline commitments
Cultured meat has received regulatory approval in Singapore and the United States, beginning commercial availability
Public attitudes toward farm animal welfare have shifted significantly — over 70% of consumers in developed markets express concern

Welfare Considerations

Global animal welfare progress is real but uneven — significant advances in some regions and species are offset by expanding intensive production in others. Legislative progress in Europe and increasingly in Asia and Latin America has created enforceable welfare floors that did not exist a generation ago. Corporate commitments driven by consumer pressure and NGO campaigns have transformed some supply chains. Scientific advances in welfare assessment have enabled more objective monitoring and accountability. However, global animal product production continues to grow — more animals are farmed today than at any point in history. The animals experiencing the worst welfare — particularly farmed fish and poultry — receive the least protection. Progress in welfare standards in developed markets can be offset by production shifting to lower-standard environments. Sustained, coordinated global action remains insufficient to the scale of the challenge.

What You Can Do

Track progress on corporate welfare commitments using tools like the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare
Support international welfare organizations working in countries where legislative progress is lagging
Reduce consumption of animal products from the most welfare-deficient production systems
Vote for political candidates supporting comprehensive farm animal welfare legislation
Support the development of welfare standards in international trade agreements incentivizing progress
Engage with animal welfare organizations publishing annual global progress reports
Share positive examples of welfare progress alongside ongoing problems to sustain motivation for advocates