Animal Welfare and Food System Transformation

Transitioning global food systems toward more sustainable and humane models requires coordinated policy change, investment and shifts in production methods at scale.

Key Facts

Animal agriculture accounts for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
Over 70 billion land animals are farmed globally each year under often intensive conditions
Alternative proteins including plant-based and cultivated meat are growing rapidly but remain a small fraction of the market
Food system transformation requires addressing land use, water, labour and welfare simultaneously
Countries with the highest per-capita meat consumption are not always those with the strongest welfare standards

Welfare Considerations

Improving animal welfare at scale requires systemic transformation of food systems rather than marginal improvements in existing industrial models. This means incentivising lower-impact, higher-welfare production through policy, creating market conditions for alternative proteins, and investing in producer transition support. Individual consumer choices matter but are insufficient without structural change.

What You Can Do

Advocate for food system policies that link agricultural subsidies to welfare standards
Support research and development of alternative proteins
Engage with political representatives about food system transformation
Learn about the intersections between food systems, climate and animal welfare