Welfare Science

Farmed Animal Welfare and Food Security: Navigating the Nexus

Overview of the complex relationship between animal welfare improvement and global food security.

Key Facts

Higher-welfare farming typically requires more land per unit of animal product
Protein transition to plant-based foods reduces both welfare and food security impacts
Smallholder farmers depend on animals for food security in many developing regions
Welfare improvements and food security can align in some production contexts
Effective altruism analysis has examined tradeoffs between welfare and food security goals

Welfare Considerations

The relationship between animal welfare improvement and food security is complex and context-dependent. In high-income countries, reducing animal product consumption improves both welfare and resource efficiency. In smallholder and subsistence contexts, animals provide critical food security, nutrition, and economic resilience. Welfare interventions in these contexts must be designed sensitively to avoid harming livelihoods while improving animal welfare.

What You Can Do

Support context-sensitive welfare improvement programmes in developing countries
Advocate for food system transitions that improve both welfare and food security
Engage with effective altruism analyses of food security and animal welfare tradeoffs