Pig Welfare and 2027 Research Agenda

Setting the 2027 pig welfare research agenda identifies the most impactful questions for reducing pig suffering and improving welfare at scale.

Key Facts

Farrowing crate alternative performance at commercial scale needs more research
Positive welfare indicator validation for routine on-farm use remains a priority
AI-powered welfare monitoring systems need welfare validation alongside technology development
Pain recognition tools for pre-weaning piglets require specific development for this age group
Global south pig welfare improvement research is vastly underfunded relative to production volumes

Welfare Considerations

Research agenda setting is itself a welfare intervention - when the right questions receive funding and attention, the resulting knowledge creates welfare improvements faster and more effectively. The 2027 pig welfare research agenda should prioritise questions whose answers would have the largest impact on pig welfare at global scale. This means including global south systems, pre-weaning welfare, and positive welfare measurement alongside the production-focused welfare questions that have traditionally dominated.

What You Can Do

Support priority-setting processes for welfare research by engaging with welfare organisations
Advocate for welfare research to receive dedicated funding in agricultural research budgets
Share your perspective on welfare research priorities through relevant stakeholder engagement