Welfare Science

Food System Transformation for Animal Welfare

Transforming the global food system to improve animal welfare requires changes in production practices, consumer behaviour, agricultural policy, and food system economics.

Key Facts

Global livestock production involves around 80 billion land animals annually
Shifting diets towards less but higher-welfare animal products could dramatically improve welfare
Agricultural subsidies in many countries support intensive production without welfare requirements
Plant-based and cultivated meat alternatives are growing but remain a small market share
COVID-19 exposed fragility of industrial food systems and their links to zoonotic disease

Welfare Considerations

Food system transformation requires policy changes, consumer demand shifts, and investment in alternatives. Individual dietary choices matter but systemic change requires government action on subsidy reform, mandatory welfare standards, and alternative protein support. The scale of welfare benefit from transformation is enormous.

What You Can Do

Reduce meat consumption and shift towards higher-welfare products when you do consume animal products
Advocate for agricultural subsidy reform that supports animal welfare and environmental standards
Support policy research organisations working on food system transformation