Farm Animal Welfare: The Next Decade

Looking ahead, the trajectory of farm animal welfare improvement over the next decade depends on policy, technology, and consumer action.

Key Facts

The next decade will see significant expansion of precision livestock farming technology
Cultivated meat and precision fermentation may reduce the number of animals farmed at scale
International welfare standard harmonisation is a key policy objective in several regions
Climate and welfare are increasingly recognised as complementary rather than competing objectives
Effective advocacy will require sophisticated strategies that engage economic and regulatory levers

Welfare Considerations

The next decade of farm animal welfare progress depends on accelerating trends in technology, regulation, and consumer behaviour while avoiding complacency from partial progress. Precision monitoring technology offers the possibility of continuous welfare assessment. Cultivated meat could reduce farmed animal numbers substantially. But realising these possibilities requires sustained advocacy, policy investment, and consumer pressure. The welfare of billions of animals depends on making the most of this pivotal decade.

What You Can Do

Stay engaged with farm animal welfare advocacy over the long term
Support research and policy organisations working on the next generation of welfare improvements
Make farm animal welfare a factor in your consumer choices and civic engagement