Welfare of Animals in Developing World Farming

The rapid growth of industrial animal farming in developing economies is replicating the welfare problems of high-income country intensive production at massive scale. Shaping this trajectory is an urgent global welfare priority.

Key Facts

China, India, and Brazil have become among the largest farm animal producers globally over the past three decades
Intensive poultry and pig production is growing fastest in lower-income economies with minimal welfare regulation
International agricultural development programs have historically promoted intensive production models without welfare provisions
Certification and supply chain standards from major importing countries create leverage over developing country production conditions
NGOs working in developing countries on welfare are significantly underfunded relative to the scale of the problem

Welfare Considerations

The trajectory of farm animal welfare in developing economies will determine the welfare of billions of animals over the coming decades. Where intensive production models are adopted without welfare provisions, the welfare problems of high-income country factory farming are being replicated at larger scale and with less regulatory capacity. Shaping this trajectory requires investment in welfare advocacy capacity in key developing economies, integration of welfare into international development programs, and use of trade-based leverage through supply chain standards.

What You Can Do

Support organizations working on farm animal welfare advocacy in major developing economy production countries
Advocate for welfare provisions to be incorporated into agricultural development assistance programs
Choose products from supply chains with verified welfare standards in developing country operations
Donate to capacity building for welfare organizations in regions where intensive production is expanding fastest
Engage with the global scale of this problem as the highest-leverage welfare frontier