Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Alternative Protein Implications

Alternative proteins including cultivated meat and plant-based products have significant implications for pig welfare. Scaling alternatives reduces demand for conventional pork production.

Key Facts

Plant-based pork alternatives including Impossible Pork are commercially available
Cultivated pork from pig cells is in development and may reach market in coming years
Reducing pork consumption reduces demand and associated pig production welfare burden
Alternative protein transitions involve economic disruption for pig farmers
Consumer adoption of alternatives is growing but pork remains dominant globally

Welfare Considerations

Alternative protein development offers a long-term pathway to dramatically reducing pig welfare burden. Supporting alternative protein development alongside immediate welfare improvement is a complementary strategy.

What You Can Do

Try plant-based pork alternatives and provide positive market signal
Support organisations working on cultivated pork and plant-based proteins
Reduce pork consumption as an immediate welfare action
Learn about the welfare implications of different protein choices