Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Welfare: Common Ground and Consensus

Finding common ground on pig welfare builds consensus that enables faster, broader change than contested advocacy.

Key Facts

Farmers and welfare advocates agree that pigs should not suffer unnecessarily
Industry and NGOs agree that enrichment provision reduces harmful behaviours and improves productivity
Consumers and producers agree that welfare transparency through labelling is beneficial
Researchers and practitioners agree that outcome-based assessment reflects real welfare better than input specifications

Welfare Considerations

Common ground between farmers, industry, NGOs, consumers, and policymakers on pig welfare is broader than the contested areas that dominate debate. Building consensus on shared positions - enrichment provision, welfare transparency, outcome measurement - creates the foundation for faster progress on more contested issues.

What You Can Do

Engage in welfare conversations seeking common ground rather than emphasising disagreement
Support consensus-building processes between welfare advocates and industry stakeholders
Celebrate shared welfare positions between traditionally opposing stakeholders as progress