A new publication from the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL), released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), underscores the essential role of animal welfare in achieving sustainable livestock systems.
The 55-page technical paper, The Positive Contribution of Animal Welfare to Sustainable Livestock Systems, brings together insights from across industry, research, and NGOs to explore how welfare improvements can strengthen social, environmental, and agricultural outcomes.
The report explains that sustainable livestock systems can benefit when animal welfare is incorporated as a priority, highlighting examples where welfare-focused approaches have led to positive ripple effects throughout the food chain. Rather than viewing welfare as a standalone goal, the authors show how improving the lives of farm animals can drive wider sustainability gains, from supporting livelihoods and food security to enhancing system resilience and public awareness.
The paper also identifies the need for evidence-based system changes that recognise and measure welfare improvements while balancing trade-offs.
Publication details:
The Positive Contribution of Animal Welfare to Sustainable Livestock Systems
FAO, Rome, Italy, 2025 – ISBN 978-92-5-140118-7
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