Welfare Science

Farm Animal Welfare Research Priorities 2026

Identifying priority research areas accelerates welfare improvement by focusing limited resources where evidence gaps are most significant.

Key Facts

Fish welfare and sentience research is identified as a top priority across multiple institutions
Positive welfare indicators for all species require further development and validation
Pain assessment tools for invertebrates and fish are urgently needed
Climate change interactions with animal welfare are poorly understood
Consumer behaviour research identifies most effective communication strategies for welfare improvement

Welfare Considerations

Research is the foundation of evidence-based welfare improvement. Priority areas including fish sentience, positive welfare indicators, and pain assessment have the potential to transform welfare standards across billions of animals. Directing research funding to highest-impact areas accelerates welfare progress globally.

What You Can Do

Support organisations funding priority animal welfare research
Advocate for research funding allocation that reflects animal numbers and welfare impact
Engage with welfare science communications to stay informed about research progress