Welfare Science

Farm Animal Research Priority Setting

Setting research priorities for farm animal welfare ensures that scientific resources address the highest-impact welfare questions.

Key Facts

Welfare research is underfunded relative to the scale of farm animal suffering
Priority setting exercises have identified key knowledge gaps in pig, broiler, and fish welfare
Translating research into practice requires engagement with farmers and certification bodies
Industry-funded research may have conflicts of interest affecting priority setting
Independent welfare science capacity is essential for objective priority setting

Welfare Considerations

Animal welfare science can only improve animal welfare if it addresses the right questions. Evidence-based priority setting, independent of industry influence, directs limited research resources toward interventions with greatest welfare impact.

What You Can Do

Support independently funded animal welfare research institutions
Advocate for government welfare research funding independent of industry influence
Learn about priority welfare research questions and share findings with stakeholders