Animal welfare in aquatic production has been gaining increasing attention in discussions about the future of aquaculture. In this context, understanding how certification programs incorporate welfare criteria into their standards is essential for producers, companies, retailers, researchers, and other stakeholders across the production chain.

This is precisely the purpose of the Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark, developed by the Aquatic Life Institute (ALI).

In its fifth edition, published in September 2026, the Benchmark evaluated 12 certification programs and 2 rating agencies, representing the largest scope reached by the study to date.

For the second consecutive year, Certified Humane ranked first, achieving a score of 9.5/10.

What is the Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark?

The Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark is a global, evidence-based tool that evaluates how aquaculture certification programs and product rating systems incorporate animal welfare requirements into their standards.

In other words, the study seeks to answer an important question:

To what extent do aquaculture certification programs establish clear criteria to protect the welfare of farmed aquatic animals?

The Benchmark compares the requirements established in different programs’ standards and assigns scores based on the presence and strength of criteria related to animal welfare.

According to ALI, it is the only global evidence-based tool specifically dedicated to assessing the strength and clarity of animal welfare language within aquaculture certification and rating frameworks.

The results can be used as a reference by certification programs, seafood companies, retailers, policymakers, researchers, investors, and animal protection organizations.

What does the Benchmark evaluate?

The assessment considers different aspects related to the living conditions and management of aquatic animals.

Among the main criteria evaluated are:

Water quality

Water quality is fundamental to the welfare of aquatic animals. Therefore, the Benchmark evaluates whether standards establish requirements related to monitoring and maintaining adequate water quality conditions.

Stocking density

The study also analyzes requirements related to the number of animals kept within a given space.

Stocking density can directly influence animals’ living conditions and is associated with factors such as behavior, water quality, and opportunities for interaction with the environment.

Environmental enrichment

Another aspect evaluated is whether standards include requirements that encourage environments more suited to animals’ behavioral needs.

This is one of the areas where the sector still has opportunities for improvement. The 2026 assessment indicates that aspects related to behavior and the ability to express natural behaviors remain less developed compared to operational welfare criteria.

Feed

The Benchmark also evaluates how standards address feed composition and feeding management practices.

Transport and handling

Transport and handling are important stages for animal welfare and are also included in the assessment.

In the 2026 edition, the transport criterion was expanded to also include routine handling practices.

Stunning and slaughter

Requirements related to stunning and slaughter are also considered in the evaluation, assessing whether standards establish procedures aimed at reducing animal suffering.

In addition to these criteria, what else is considered?

The Benchmark also assigns scores to certain prohibitions considered relevant for animal welfare.

These include:

• farming octopuses and other cephalopods;
• eyestalk ablation in shrimp;
• the use of insects as feed for aquatic animals;
• the use of genetically modified organisms to accelerate growth;
• inappropriate use of antimicrobials.

In the 2026 edition, inappropriate antimicrobial use became one of the core prohibitions assessed.

The report also highlights that six evaluated programs now prohibit the farming of octopuses or other cephalopods: Certified Humane, RSPCA, ASC, Soil Association Organic, Friend of the Sea, and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP).

What does the Benchmark NOT evaluate?

This point is important.

The Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark is an assessment exclusively focused on animal welfare.

Therefore, the score does not represent an overall evaluation of certification programs.

The study does not assess:

• environmental sustainability;
• food safety;
• social responsibility;
• governance performance;
• implementation of standards on farms;
• compliance of certified operations with the standards.

In other words, a high Benchmark score means that a program has clearer and stronger requirements related to animal welfare, but it does not necessarily indicate the best performance across all other dimensions of aquaculture production.

Certified Humane ranks first again

In the 2026 edition, Certified Humane achieved 9.5 points, maintaining the leading position for the second consecutive year.

The result also represents an improvement compared to the previous edition. In 2025, Certified Humane received 8.75 points and also ranked first.

The three highest scores in 2026 were:

1st Certified Humane: 9.5
2nd RSPCA: 8.45
3rd ASC: 7.95

The improvement in Certified Humane’s score followed the incorporation of new animal welfare provisions into its standards, including updates made based on recommendations presented by ALI in the 2025 Benchmark.

Why is this assessment important for aquaculture?

Aquaculture plays an increasingly important role in global food production, with billions of aquatic animals raised in farming systems worldwide.

At the same time, scientific knowledge about the welfare of these animals continues to advance.

In this context, establishing clear welfare criteria within certification standards can help translate scientific knowledge into practical requirements for production systems.

The ALI Benchmark provides an overview of which aspects are already more established within certification standards and which areas still require further development.

According to the 2026 assessment, requirements related to feed, water quality, stocking density, transport and handling, and stunning and slaughter are increasingly present in the evaluated standards. On the other hand, aspects related to behavioral welfare, environmental complexity, and opportunities for expressing natural behaviors remain areas requiring further development.

Recognition for advancing animal welfare

Certified Humane’s first-place ranking in the 2026 Benchmark represents recognition of the presence of animal welfare requirements within its aquaculture certification standards.

The result highlights the importance of establishing objective, evidence-based, and continuously improved criteria to guide the responsible farming of aquatic animals.

For Certified Humane, this recognition reflects a commitment at the core of its work: supporting farming conditions that consider animals’ needs and contributing to concrete advances in animal welfare.

Learn more about the 2026 Benchmark

The Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark 2026, published by the Aquatic Life Institute, presents the complete assessment of the certification programs and rating agencies analyzed in this edition.

Access the full report to learn more about the methodology, evaluation criteria, and results for each program.

READ ALSO:

Species-specific standards – Tilapia

Standard for Atlantic Salmon Farming

However, animal welfare is not only an ethical responsibility. Providing adequate living conditions for farm animals can also benefit production systems and the future of farming businesses.

Many producers still ask an important question: Is investing in animal welfare financially worthwhile?

Does it make sense to adopt practices that allow animals to express their natural behaviors, such as eating, resting, moving, and interacting with other animals?

The answer is yes.

Animal welfare and production results can go together

Research and farm experiences show that responsible animal care practices can bring benefits to both animals and producers.

When animals are raised with proper management and conditions that meet their physical and behavioral needs, they can present better health and productivity indicators.

At the same time, consumers are paying increasing attention to how animal products are produced. The way animals are raised has become an important factor for people who want more transparency about the origin of their food.

A case study: collective housing for pigs

One example comes from a study carried out at Granja Miunça, which compared two different production systems for pigs.

In one system, piglets were born and raised in collective pens, following animal welfare recommendations. In the other, the conventional system was used, with pregnant sows kept in individual stalls with limited space.

The results showed positive production differences in the collective housing system:

• 3.5% increase in the number of piglets born alive;
• 14% higher piglet weight at weaning.

The study shows that systems designed to better meet animals’ needs can also contribute to improved production outcomes.

Source: World Animal Protection (WAP) and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) – “Collective housing of pregnant sows.”

The role of animal welfare in the future of farming

Animal welfare is becoming an increasingly important topic in food production.

For producers, adopting better farming practices means responding to changing expectations from consumers while maintaining productive and competitive operations.

For consumers, transparency about how animals are raised helps build confidence in the products they choose.

Certifications such as Certified Humane® help identify production systems that follow recognized animal welfare standards based on scientific requirements and independent inspections.

Better care, better decisions for the future

Animal welfare should not be seen as separate from business performance.

The Granja Miunça case demonstrates that providing better conditions for animals can also be associated with positive production results.

By adopting responsible practices, producers can contribute to healthier animals, more transparent production systems, and a stronger relationship with consumers.

Providing appropriate conditions for farm animals is an important part of responsible animal production. Nutrition, water, housing, the environment and handling all play a role in how animals are cared for throughout their lives.

As this subject gains greater visibility, animal welfare is becoming part of the discussion about how food is produced and what consumers expect from the industry.

The consumer is paying attention

Food companies can invest in new products and marketing campaigns, but these efforts also need to consider changes in consumer expectations.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about their health and about the origin of the food they buy. They want to know where the product on their table comes from and under what conditions the animals

 were raised before becoming part of the food supply.

This has made animal care an important consideration for the agricultural industry.

Consumers are also willing to pay more for products made with animal welfare in mind. A product carrying an animal welfare certification can be perceived as being of higher quality than one that provides no information about how the animals were raised.

For the industry, this means that good animal care practices are becoming increasingly important to the way products are produced and presented to consumers.

How did animal welfare become part of animal production?

The discussion about animal welfare began in the 1960s. In 1979, the publication of the Five Freedoms by the Farm Animal Welfare Council gave greater importance to animal welfare in discussions about farm animal production.

From that point forward, issues related to animal care became part of the conversation surrounding agricultural production.

Infrastructure, food, water, transportation and animal nutrition are among the aspects that need to be considered when looking at the conditions in which farm animals are raised.

Why do nutrition and environmental conditions matter?

Environmental management and animal nutrition are important elements of animal welfare.

hese practices also play an important role in preventing problems that can cause significant losses to the agricultural industry, such as salmonella outbreaks. The occurrence of the bacteria is associated with factors including inadequate hygiene and cleaning in environments where poultry and pigs are raised, poor management of waste and other residues, contaminated water, and a lack of control over birds, flies and rodents.

Nutrition is another factor that deserves particular attention.

Proper care of the environment and the food provided to animals is therefore an important part of managing production and protecting animal health.

Why does animal welfare certification matter?

Consumers who want to know whether a product has been produced with animal welfare in mind need reliable information. Certification provides a way to identify products that follow defined animal welfare standards.

The Certified Humane® program works to improve the lives of farm animals from birth through slaughter. Since 2003, Certified Humane® has followed the Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) Standards Manual.

The program’s standards establish specific animal welfare requirements and consider the characteristics of each species.

They are reviewed by a Scientific Committee made up of approximately 40 professionals from around the world. The committee studies the specific characteristics of each species to establish appropriate requirements for their care.

For consumers, the certification provides information about the standards followed in the production of a product. For producers and food companies, it offers a way to demonstrate their commitment to animal care through defined requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Animal Welfare

What are the Five Freedoms?

The Five Freedoms are principles that became an important reference in discussions about farm animal welfare following their publication by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979.

When did Certified Humane® begin following the HFAC Standards Manual?

Certified Humane® has followed the Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) Standards Manual since 2003.

What aspects of production are related to animal welfare?

Infrastructure, food, water, transportation, animal nutrition and environmental management are among the aspects related to animal welfare in farm animal production.

Do the standards consider the specific needs of different species?

Yes. The standards consider the specific characteristics of each species when establishing animal welfare requirements.

Learn more about Certified Humane® animal welfare standards

Symbols convey messages quickly and clearly. On animal-based food products, the Certified Humane® seal indicates that the product is connected to a production system evaluated according to specific animal welfare standards.

Although it occupies only a small space on the packaging, the seal represents a commitment that extends across different stages of production and the conditions in which animals are raised and handled.

Certification requires commitment

Farms and companies of different sizes can apply for Certified Humane® certification, provided they meet the standards established by the program and successfully complete the corresponding evaluation process.

On the other hand, not all companies are willing to follow this path or meet its requirements. 

In fact, some publicly advocate for animal welfare but disregard it when no one is watching: on farms with inadequate facilities, during improper transportation, or in poorly maintained slaughterhouses. Under these conditions, cattle, pigs, poultry, and other species that are part of our food supply chain may become ill, suffer, or be injured.

Distinguishing those who are genuinely committed from those seeking easy financial gain through empty rhetoric is part of the mission of the Certified Humane Institute, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization.

The certification mark displayed by companies indicates that, at some point, a business partner or farm owner made the decision that their business should not grow at the expense of unnecessary animal suffering.

How the Certified Humane® certification process works

To obtain certification, a company may need to adapt its production line or farm. It may also need to invest in employee training.

Above all, it must commit to transparency by periodically opening its facilities to inspections conducted by trained inspectors who visit the operation to verify whether good practices are being followed. The assessment considers technical criteria related to feed, access to water, health, housing, space, transportation, proper handling, and slaughter practices, when applicable.

As a result, the certification process helps consumers identify brands they can trust. More than just an image on the packaging, it represents auditing, accountability, and continuous improvement.

A symbol that helps consumers make informed choices

In a market where many brands talk about responsibility, independent certification helps distinguish those that are willing to demonstrate their practices according to technical standards.

The label does not replace complete information about production, but it provides a clear signal at the point of purchase. For consumers concerned about where their food comes from and the conditions in which animals are raised, this information can help support more informed choices.

Choosing certified products is also a way to recognize companies that invest in good practices and agree to undergo external assessments.

In short, the Certified Humane® seal demonstrates that animal welfare should not be treated merely as a marketing claim, but as a verifiable practice. To learn more about this topic, continue exploring our blog and discover how your purchasing decisions can help support more responsible production chains.

One example is Chew’s Agriculture, one of the largest egg farms in Singapore. In 2019, the company signed a 10-year sustainability-linked loan of approximately US$ 19 million with DBS Bank. Following Humane Farm Animal Care standards was crucial for Chew’s Agriculture to obtain lower interest rates.

Another major example is Fazenda da Toca, the largest producer of organic eggs in Latin America and a Certified Humane® seal holder. The company raised more than US$ 4 million through the issuance of an Agribusiness Receivables Certificate (CRA, in its Portuguese acronym) with a green seal. It was the first Green Bond granted to the laying hen sector in Brazil. The company aimed to increase its production of free-range and cage-free eggs by 133% by 2024.

Fazenda da Toca, led by entrepreneur Pedro Paulo Diniz, is located in Itirapina, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, and covers 2,300 hectares. Among the various sustainable activities developed by the company, the increased production of organic and free-range eggs with the Certified Humane® seal stands out. For the company to obtain the CRA with a green seal in the national poultry sector, which had been unprecedented until then, having the Certified Humane® seal was essential.

“This operation means a great deal not only for Fazenda da Toca, but for the entire organic products segment in Brazil. It is a clear demonstration that there is growing investment in regenerative and sustainable projects, which broadens growth prospects for our sector. This type of financing is the perfect combination of financial return and economic viability with positive environmental and social impact,” said entrepreneur Pedro Paulo Diniz to the newspaper Valor Econômico. Certified cattle farming has also obtained a CRA. 

Fazenda da Toca follows in the footsteps of Rizoma Agro, another company certified by Certified Humane® under the beef cattle standard, which in 2020 also raised more than US$ 4 million through an Agribusiness Receivables Certificate (CRA). It was the world’s first Green Bond issuance for agricultural financing of rural producers with certification from the British Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI).

Located in the city of Iaras, in the state of São Paulo, with 1,200 hectares of productive area, Rizoma Agro is also owned by entrepreneur Pedro Paulo Diniz. The company is investing the funds raised in the cultivation of corn, soybeans, beans, oats, chickpeas and lime, as well as in beef cattle farming and agroforestry. Part of the capital is also being used for irrigation and for a biological products factory for pest and disease control.

The strong potential of sustainable agribusiness and animal welfare are major economic drivers. According to the Climate Bonds Initiative itself, the investment potential for agriculture in Brazil is estimated at US$ 131 billion by 2030. Financing agricultural, livestock and other animal farming projects is seen as a promising opportunity for the coming years. The Certified Humane® seal has undoubtedly proven to be an important factor in attracting investors.

By choosing products with the label, consumers can be confident that the animal protein on their table was produced ethically, transparently, and responsibly. This means animals were raised in environments designed to allow freedom of movement, access to clean water, proper nutrition and handling practices that prevent unnecessary suffering.

The consumer: a driving force

More and more, consumers are seeking food with transparent origins and production systems that respect animal welfare. Choosing certified products is not just a purchasing decision, it’s an investment in a more humane and fair supply chain.

This consumer behavior drives demand and pressures the entire industry to change. When people prioritize products with the Certified Humane® label, they help shift ethical practices from being the exception to becoming the norm.

The role of retail and industry

While consumers are key players, the retail and food industries are essential for enabling large-scale change.

• Retailers have direct contact with millions of people every day. By offering certified products and communicating their value at the point of sale, supermarkets help educate consumers and make ethical food choices more accessible.
• The food industry, in turn, has the power to influence large volumes. When a company commits to using only certified eggs or meat in its recipes, it compels its entire supply chain to comply, raising the standard of animal welfare across the board.

This combined movement makes certification a strategic tool, one that aligns social responsibility, sustainability and competitiveness.

Certification is not marketing, it’s a guarantee

It’s important to clarify: Certified Humane® does not certify slogans, ad campaigns, or vague promises. What’s audited are the actual on-farm and in-plant conditions, verified by independent experts and based on science.

This means a product can only carry the label if its entire production process strictly complies with the technical standards and this compliance is continuously evaluated, not just during an initial audit.

A one-way path forward

The numbers highlight the strength and global reach of this movement. Since expanding to Asia in 2019, the Certified Humane® program has benefited more than half a billion animals only last year through inspections conducted in hundreds of farms and food companies, representing thousands of producers across more than 20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Turkey, the United States, Uruguay and Vietnam.

The trend is clear: animal welfare is no longer just a market differentiator, it’s a growing demand from consumers and international markets alike.

Choosing products with the Certified Humane® label is more than a purchase decision, it’s a way to support a food system that is more ethical, sustainable and transparent. It also sends a clear message to retailers and the industry: animal responsibility is a non-negotiable value.

When consumers, retailers, and the food industry move together, the result is real transformation, one that benefits not only the animals, but also producers, companies, and society as a whole.

Animals subjected to stressful conditions during handling undergo different biochemical and structural processes after slaughter, in the period called “muscle to meat conversion”. This can alter the color of the meat, making it dark or pale depending on the situation, or making it tough and dry. In other words, there is a loss of quality in animal products.  

In addition to the physical and chemical characteristics of the meat (appearance, texture, flavor), which are directly influenced by the conditions the animals have had during their lives, ethical and environmental preservation issues are also part of the consumer public’s perception of the quality of animal products (which is becoming increasingly demanding). 

Animal welfare and the quality of meat and dairy products: how stress works

Animal muscles have energy reserves called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which are synthesized during life. After slaughter, this energy source is resynthesized anaerobically in the absence of oxygen. Lactic acid is then formed, which accumulates in the muscle and lowers the pH of the product, turning the muscle into meat.

When the animal undergoes prolonged handling stress, the pH reduction is slower due to the low production of lactic acid. With a high final pH, the meat will look drier and stiffer. This problem is called DFD (dark, firm, dry) and can occur in pigs and cattle. 

When the animal undergoes other types of stress closer to the time of slaughter – during transport until it is stunned, for example – high levels of muscle glycogen will lead to greater production of lactic acid. In this case, there is an accelerated decrease in muscle pH and the consequence is meat with a pale, flabby appearance that releases a lot of water. This problem is called PSE (pale, soft, exudative) and can occur in pigs, cattle and poultry. 

In both cases, the quality of animal products is affected, since both darker, stiffer meats and pale, flaccid meats are less acceptable to the consumer market. 

In addition to the quality of the by-products, the stress suffered by the animals as a result of inadequate handling, dehydration, prolonged fasting and poor living conditions can generally lower their immunity. This condition of immunosuppression makes herds more susceptible to disease, increasing producers’ costs for veterinary treatment and increasing the risk of loss of production.

How can animal welfare be assessed?

Concern for animal welfare is expressed in practice in care for the conditions to which livestock are exposed, from birth to slaughter. Among this care, it is important to highlight:

The animals must not go hungry or thirsty, being provided with food and water of sufficient quality and quantity for all;

They must not be exposed to discomfort and injury as a result of poorly maintained shelter and resting environments;

Medicines should not be used to enhance the growth of the animals, only vaccinations to prevent and medicines to treat diseases when really necessary; the focus should always be on prevention!

Animals should not be exposed to fear and stress during handling and contact with farmers; positive human-animal interaction has direct benefits for productivity and animal welfare!

Animals should live in an environment with space and conditions that allow them to express their natural behavior. Housing in cages or crates, or anything else that restricts animal behavior, seriously compromises animal welfare! 

All these conditions are verified in animal husbandry systems that undergo welfare certification processes. Increasingly, producers, companies and consumers are becoming aware of the importance of investing in animal welfare and improving management. 

This concern has an impact on the quality of animal products, so it’s an economic issue, but it also involves moral, ethical, health and food safety issues.

The award ceremony was attended by government officials and strategic partners, including Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro, who made a point of being present, and Joey Bacalla, the farm’s owner. Also in attendance was J. Signey, a representative from Global Food Partners, the organization that provided technical and strategic support during the certification preparation process.

The Certified Humane® seal is granted to producers who meet strict international animal welfare standards. In the case of Ilaya Cage-Free Egg Supply, this means raising hens cage-free, with adequate space to express natural behaviors, providing a 100% vegetarian diet with no preventative antibiotics or growth promoters, and ensuring low-stress handling with exemplary sanitary conditions.

These requirements are verified through independent audits based on scientific evidence, reinforcing the credibility and trustworthiness of the certification.

By meeting globally recognized standards, the farm positions itself competitively to serve demanding markets and consumers who are increasingly attentive to the origin and production methods of their food.

For the province of Cebu, this is also a concrete example that it is possible to combine economic success, sustainability, and respect for animal welfare. As Governor Pam Baricuatro highlighted, this achievement paves the way for other farms to adopt more responsible practices and benefit from the advantages of ethical production.

The certification process was the result of collaborative work between the farm team, animal welfare specialists, and Global Food Partners, which assisted in adapting facilities, training staff, and implementing the good practices required by the seal.

This joint effort shows that with technical guidance and commitment, it is possible to implement international standards even in local production contexts.

Ilaya Cage-Free Egg Supply’s achievement reinforces the expansion of Certified Humane® in Asia and the growing interest of producers in the region to adopt more humane and sustainable practices.

From now on, Filipino and international consumers will be able to find eggs bearing the Certified Humane® seal, with the assurance that they were produced with respect for animals, the environment, and the consumer.

Held in the city of Trichy, the event followed a Training of Trainers (ToT) model. Its goal was to equip thought leaders and technical multipliers with best practices for housing, handling, health, and the welfare of laying hens in alternative production systems — especially cage-free environments.

Certified Humane® was invited to share its technical expertise and present the criteria from its laying hen animal welfare certification program which is implemented in over 25 countries. Luiz Mazzon, regional director for Latin America and Asia, detailed the requirements farms must meet to achieve certification, all based on scientific evidence and objective animal welfare guidelines.

“This was an important opportunity to show that cage-free systems are not only feasible but also productive, technically sound, and increasingly demanded by consumers and global markets,” Luiz stated.

A transformative event for poultry farming in India

The training gathered key players in the Indian poultry sector: university and state veterinarians, experts from the Central Poultry Development Organization (CPDO), representatives from the Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), equipment suppliers, genetics specialists, and rural entrepreneurs. The aim was to understand, discuss, and scale practices aligned with animal welfare and responsible production.

The new training center will serve as a permanent space for capacity-building, research, and innovation. It is housed on a working cage-free farm, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in practical demonstrations of the concepts covered during the sessions.

Happy Hens as a practical example

One of the event highlights was the participation of Happy Hens, a Certified Humane® egg producer in India. Manjunath Marapan, the company’s general manager, shared their inspiring journey — from ethical beginnings to expansion into highly demanding markets.

Also present was Mathavan, owner of the model farm that now hosts the training center, who has been a key advocate for cage-free systems in the region.

“The Happy Hens case shows that producing with animal welfare in mind is not only ethical — it’s also strategic and economically viable,” Luiz Mazzon emphasized.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: Animal welfare in India: Happy Eggs founder discusses egg market trends

Certification as a technical and marketing tool

Certified Humane® emphasized during the event that certification is a technical, transparent, and auditable process that brings benefits for both farm management and product value.

By meeting the program’s criteria — covering everything from space requirements per bird to feed, health, handling, and slaughter practices — producers align with internationally recognized standards. This can open doors to premium markets and enhance brand reputation among increasingly conscious consumers.

The organization also reinforced that laying hen animal welfare certification is accessible to producers of various sizes, including small and medium-scale farms, provided there is commitment to adapting handling routines.

A significant step for the future of poultry farming in Asia

Certified Humane®’s participation in this milestone reinforces its role as a trusted global reference in promoting ethical, sustainable, and technically sound production systems.

The Tamil Nadu training center signals a broader movement: the cage-free transition in Asia is no longer a distant vision — it’s happening now with support, knowledge, and a clear path forward.

The use of antibiotics to enhance the growth of animals such as chickens is one example. This technique can result in resistant bacteria, make it difficult to treat diseases in animals and also harm those who consume this food. 

Another serious problem when there is no care for animal welfare is zoonoses, diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Without good living conditions, it is easier for animals to develop diseases and after the Covid-19 pandemic this issue has gained prominence, not only among specialists and scholars on the subject, but also among the general public.

Faced with this reality and the need to improve farming systems to provide better living conditions for animals, did you know that consumers have a lot of power to promote animal welfare? The behavior of those who buy influences the processes and routines of those who produce. Find out how and why.  

How can consumers promote animal welfare?

There are several possible ways for consumers to promote animal welfare. The first is to stop buying products from companies that don’t provide good conditions for their farms. 

In the current economic scenario in Brazil and around the world, in which more and more companies face competition and need to differentiate their businesses, the word and actions of the consumer carry a lot of weight for companies to keep their products in line with the demands of those who buy them. 

One of the ways to find out if the company has this kind of commitment is to see if the packaging contains an animal welfare certification seal. This seal is a confirmation that the animals are given the proper care to develop their natural behavior, without being subjected to food deprivation or unnecessary stress and fear.

Another way to promote animal welfare is to encourage the sale of certified products in the establishments where you eat. Talking to managers and owners of markets and butchers, for example, asking for this type of merchandise, is a great way to demonstrate consumers’ concern for promoting animal welfare. 

A third way to promote animal welfare is to encourage friends, family and acquaintances to follow suit. When people understand the importance of the cause, they advocate the idea on social networks, in conversation circles, etc.

Why promote animal welfare?

Practices to promote animal welfare bring benefits to both producers and consumers. As we said at the beginning of the text, they are essential for health reasons, since well cared for animals are healthier and therefore less susceptible to developing diseases that can be transmitted to humans. Animals treated in good conditions also need fewer antibiotics, reducing the indirect intake of these drugs by people. 

Another benefit of implementing actions to promote animal welfare in production is the improvement in the quality of the product that reaches the consumer’s table.  

Food produced in compliance with animal welfare standards has better quality. 

Conscious consumption is a movement that is growing day by day. In 2016, a study carried out by the NGO World Animal Protection on consumer perception of animal welfare showed that 91% of those interviewed understood that there is a relationship between animal welfare and the quality of meat. 

More recently, a survey by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) showed that four out of ten Brazilians said they had already boycotted a brand or company for testing or mistreating animals and 37% said they were willing to pay more for products that did not cause animal suffering.

The urgency for production to promote animal welfare is a path of no return, and consumers can play their part in this chain in an active and informed way. If you’re not yet part of this group, it’s worth considering the subject further to understand the advantages of buying certified products. 

To find out more about this topic, check out the article: Everything you need to know about animal welfare certification.