Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Welfare and Plant-Based Protein Implications

Growing adoption of plant-based protein foods has welfare implications for pig production. Understanding these transitions helps advocates navigate the changing food system.

Key Facts

Global plant-based protein market is growing at significant annual rates
Reduced pork demand from plant-based adoption should reduce pig production welfare burden
Market transitions may affect prices and production systems in complex ways
Plant-based proteins require agricultural land with different wildlife welfare implications
Consumer transitions to plant-based foods directly reduce demand for pork production

Welfare Considerations

Plant-based protein adoption reduces pork demand and therefore pig production welfare burden. This makes plant-based choices a direct welfare action alongside their other environmental and health benefits.

What You Can Do

Include plant-based protein alternatives in your diet as a welfare action
Support the plant-based protein industry as a welfare-positive market development
Learn about the welfare implications of different protein sources
Engage with advocacy that considers plant-based transitions as a welfare strategy