Progress in improving duck welfare in commercial meat production systems.
Duck welfare progress over the past decade represents a case study in how consumer and retailer pressure can drive welfare improvements in a species that had previously received minimal attention. The specific, measurable welfare requirement of water access has provided a clear standard around which advocacy and purchasing decisions can organize. Progress remains uneven — water access standards exist for some retailers in some markets but are absent in much of the global supply — but the trajectory is positive. Continued consumer awareness and retail commitment is needed to sustain and extend this progress to more of the global duck industry.