Rationale for Defining Recognition of “Higher Animal Welfare” Farm Assurance Schemes in a Global Food System: The GAWA Alliance

Elizabeth Rowe,Siobhan Mullan,Jeremy Rix

doi:10.3389/fanim.2021.665706

Elizabeth Rowe, Siobhan Mullan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2021.665706

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Abstract

Many schemes exist which provide assurance on farm animal welfare. However, different standards and protocols mean the level of welfare assured by schemes can be very diverse, potentially hindering food businesses operating globally from sourcing equivalent higher welfare products. This research investigated the rationale for establishing a recognised network of higher welfare schemes from which authentic higher welfare products can be purchased. Nine assurance schemes and seven food businesses were interviewed. Results confirmed the challenge food businesses face in international trade of products from animals reared to a definable welfare status, due to the lack of recognised equivalence of different assurance schemes. Results provided evidence for international interest in an alliance of higher welfare schemes to provide standardisation of higher welfare, as a solution to this challenge. As a result, a working model of such an alliance was refined and the alliance was launched as “Global Animal Welfare Assurance” (GAWA).

Highlights

Certification or assurance schemes are schemes which certify, or provide assurance on, the conditions of farm production, including the level of welfare to which animals are reared (Hubbard, 2012)
Some consider the origin of such schemes to lie, at least in the UK, with retailers, as a result of pressure from the Food Safety Act introduced in 1990; others argue that it was consumers who were the driving force, due to concerns
The aims of this study were to examine whether international trade in animal products produced to a defined level of animal welfare is a challenge for food businesses, and to investigate the potential of an alliance of higher welfare schemes meeting a science-led definition of higher welfare as a mechanism for overcoming this challenge

Summary

Introduction

Certification or assurance schemes are schemes which certify, or provide assurance on, the conditions of farm production, including the level of welfare to which animals are reared (Hubbard, 2012). The assurance of welfare is mainly based on the provision of certain resources (known as input measures) that keep animals safe, comfortable healthy and allow them to meet their behavioural needs: for example, providing hens with a suitable substrate(s) for dustbathing, a behaviour that hens are strongly motivated to perform (Olsson and Keeling, 2005), and suitable litter being a resource that hens want (e.g., Skånberg et al, 2021). Assurance schemes have started to incorporate animal-based measurements (known as output or outcome measures) i.e., measurements of animal health and behaviour as a way of directly assessing their welfare (Main et al, 2014). Some consider the origin of such schemes to lie, at least in the UK, with retailers, as a result of pressure from the Food Safety Act introduced in 1990; others argue that it was consumers who were the driving force, due to concerns

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