Animal welfare science is advancing rapidly. Understanding the key research frontiers helps prioritise funding and advocacy for the most impactful welfare improvements over the next decade.
The trajectory of welfare science points toward greater recognition of sentience across more species, more sophisticated measurement of both negative and positive welfare states, and integration of welfare science with practical farming and conservation management. The most impactful research directions are those that either extend welfare recognition to new species groups (invertebrates, fish), develop practical welfare assessment tools for farm and zoo settings, or build the evidence base for advocacy on the most impactful systemic issues. Funding welfare science is an investment in future welfare protection.