Farm animal welfare standards vary enormously around the world, with progress in some regions contrasting sharply with ongoing welfare crises in others.
The global distribution of farm animal welfare standards creates a complex picture. Progress in high-regulation markets including the EU, UK, and parts of North America contrasts with predominantly welfare-unregulated production in Asia, Latin America, and Africa where most animal production growth is occurring. The welfare significance of this gap is enormous in scale. Corporate supply chain commitments that extend welfare requirements to global suppliers represent one of the most important levers for improving farm animal welfare beyond jurisdictions with strong regulation.