Animal Welfare and the Sustainable Food Transition

The global shift toward more sustainable diets is closely linked to animal welfare outcomes, as reducing livestock production for environmental reasons also reduces animal suffering at scale.

Key Facts

The EAT-Lancet Commission (2019) recommends a dramatic reduction in red meat consumption globally for health and environmental reasons
Reducing livestock production by 50% would reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially while also preventing billions of animals from entering welfare-compromised systems
Plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives have the potential to meet protein needs with dramatically lower animal welfare costs
However, transitions that simply move production to less regulated regions can displace welfare problems without solving them
The FAO estimates 80% of global antibiotic use is in livestock - reducing livestock production would significantly reduce AMR risk
A just transition must consider the livelihoods of farmers and food system workers to be sustainable and equitable

Welfare Considerations

The animal welfare and environmental sustainability movements are deeply aligned: reducing global livestock production, particularly intensive factory farming, benefits both animals and the planet. The billions of animals currently in welfare-compromised systems represent both an enormous ethical burden and a major environmental impact. Transitions to plant-based, reduced-animal diets create welfare improvements at scale without requiring any individual animal welfare intervention. The challenge is ensuring that transitions are genuinely global, do not simply displace production to lower-welfare jurisdictions, and support farmers in shifting livelihoods. When done well, the food system transition is one of the highest-leverage opportunities available for improving animal welfare outcomes globally.

What You Can Do

Reduce animal product consumption, particularly intensively produced meat and dairy
Choose higher-welfare animal products when consuming animal foods
Support policy frameworks that link food system transitions to animal welfare improvements
Learn more about the intersection of sustainability and animal welfare at ciwf.org.uk and gfi.org