Transitions to sustainable and regenerative agriculture can either improve or worsen animal welfare — careful policy design is needed to ensure both goals advance together.
Agricultural sustainability transitions present both opportunities and risks for animal welfare. More extensive systems can provide welfare benefits for farmed animals through outdoor access and lower stocking densities. However, transition programs that overlook welfare can inadvertently introduce new problems. Insect farming is growing rapidly with essentially no welfare framework. Integration of welfare and sustainability goals requires deliberate policy design.