Open access publication of animal welfare research increases global impact and enables practitioners, policymakers, and advocates in all countries to access the evidence they need.
The global reach of animal welfare science depends on its accessibility beyond elite academic institutions in wealthy countries. Research demonstrating effective welfare interventions for farmed or companion animals in high-income country contexts may have significant implications for practice in low and middle income countries where welfare conditions are often worse and research capacity is lower. Open access publication removes the paywall barrier, while translation into local languages removes the language barrier. Welfare science that reaches practitioners, policymakers, and advocates in every country is more impactful than research that circulates only among academic specialists.