Welfare Science

Pig Welfare at Scale 2026

Pig welfare at scale in 2026 reflects the cumulative impact of years of advocacy, regulation, and market pressure on the welfare of the 1.4 billion pigs produced annually. Progress and remaining challenges assessed.

Key Facts

EU enrichment requirements now reach a larger proportion of pigs than any previous year
Globally, certified higher welfare pork remains a minority but growing proportion of production
Digital monitoring tools are reducing the per-animal cost of welfare assessment at scale
Consumer awareness at higher levels than ever before creates market pressure for improvement
A generation of welfare scientists and advocates is emerging with sophisticated tools and evidence

Welfare Considerations

Pig welfare at scale in 2026 shows genuine but insufficient progress. The welfare of hundreds of millions of pigs has improved through enrichment requirements, improved stunning standards, and better pain management. The welfare of hundreds of millions more remains inadequate. The scale of remaining challenge demands sustained strategic effort that the achievements of recent years have demonstrated is capable of producing real results.

What You Can Do

Support high-impact interventions that reach the largest number of pigs
Advocate for international trade policies that extend welfare standards globally
Continue making purchasing choices that support higher welfare pig production