Welfare Science

Animal Welfare and Sustainable Agriculture

Integration of animal welfare into sustainable agriculture frameworks recognises that welfare, environment, and food security are interconnected goals requiring coherent policy and practice.

Key Facts

Sustainable agriculture frameworks increasingly include animal welfare as a third pillar
Agroecological approaches often achieve better welfare outcomes than intensive systems
Welfare and environmental outcomes are frequently but not always correlated
Payment for ecosystem services frameworks can incorporate animal welfare
EU Farm to Fork Strategy includes animal welfare as a core component

Welfare Considerations

Sustainable agriculture that integrates welfare, environment, and food security requires coherent policy frameworks that avoid trade-offs where possible and explicitly manage them where unavoidable. The case that sustainable agriculture and good animal welfare are complementary is growing.

What You Can Do

Support agricultural policy reform that integrates welfare and environmental objectives
Engage with sustainable agriculture networks on animal welfare dimensions
Advocate for Farm to Fork and similar integrated approaches to food system sustainability