Abstract:

Computer vision is rapidly transforming the field of dairy farm management by enabling automated, non-invasive monitoring of animal health, behavior, and productivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent applications of computer vision in dairy farming management operations, including cattle identification and tracking, and consequently the assessment of feeding and rumination behavior, body condition score, lameness and lying behavior, mastitis and milk yield, and social behavior and oestrus. By synthesizing findings from recent studies, we highlight how computer vision systems contribute to improving animal welfare and enhancing productivity and reproductive performance. The paper also discusses current technological limitations, such as variability in environmental conditions and data integration challenges, as well as opportunities for future development, particularly through the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. This review aims to guide researchers and practitioners toward more effective adoption of vision-based technologies in precision livestock farming.

Antognoli, V., Presutti, L., Bovo, M., Torreggiani, D., & Tassinari, P. (2025). Computer vision in dairy farm management: A literature review of current applications and future perspectives. Animals : An Open Access Journal from MDPI, 15(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172508

Abstract:

The foodservice provider (FSP) sector, though less visible than major restaurant or retail brands, is a $93.23 billion industry in North America, employing a substantial workforce and serving institutions such as universities, hospitals, K–12 schools, corporations, and airports. Despite its significant imprint across the food system, the sector has largely avoided scrutiny regarding animal welfare and sourcing practices, often relying on factory farms that cause animal suffering, particularly among chickens raised for meat. The FSP sector has the purchasing power to positively influence supplier practices and supply chains. The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), adopted by over 220 food companies, including 41 FSPs, outlines the minimum improvements needed to address the most pressing welfare concerns for farmed chickens. When BCC policy components are implemented, especially transitions to higher-welfare chicken breeds (HWB), animal suffering is significantly reduced. While all 22 FSPs featured in this report have adopted the BCC, progress is highly variable, with only 12 reporting advancement and 10 publishing roadmaps. This report evaluates FSPs on BCC policy implementation and transparency. As progress on cage-free egg sourcing has shown, adopting and implementing policies that end the worst factory-farming practices is crucial for FSPs to remain competitive in markets with increasingly ethically minded consumers.

Mercy For Animals. (2025). Serving Up Change report: How foodservice providers rank on chicken welfare. Mercy for Animals. https://servingupchange.org/

Abstract:

In today’s post, we’re revisiting our research on the rate of subjective experience, which may have implications for our understanding of animal welfare and prioritization of welfare-based interventions. We hope you’ll enjoy this mind-bending conundrum and find inspiration to incorporate it into your thinking.

Imagine watching a video in slow motion. Every detail becomes clearer, every moment stretches out, allowing you to process far more information than normal speed would allow. Now imagine the reverse—everything rushing past in fast-forward, events blurring together in a compressed stream of experience. What if some of the animals around us live in one of these scenarios? We think this is significantly more likely than not.

Schukraft, J. (2025). The hidden dimension of animal suffering: How time flows differently across species. Rethink Priorities. https://rpstrategicanimalinsights.substack.com/p/the-hidden-dimension-of-animal-suffering

Abstract: Accurate classification of fish diseases is crucial in the aquaculture industry, particularly in India, where seafood farming plays a vital role in the national economy. Traditional disease detection methods primarily depend on manual inspection by aquaculture experts through visual observation. These conventional approaches often suffer from limitations such as time consumption, subjectivity, and reliance on experiential knowledge, which can result in inconsistent and delayed diagnoses. To overcome these challenges, the proposed research focuses on developing an AI-driven automated system that leverages real-time monitoring using cameras and sensors to assess fish health. By integrating advanced image processing techniques with machine learning algorithms, the system aims to significantly enhance the precision and speed of disease identification in aquatic life. The implementation of smart aquaculture technologies marks a transformative shift in disease management strategies. These intelligent systems not only enable early and accurate detection of infections but also support sustainable farming by improving productivity, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring better fish welfare. Through real-time data analysis and automation, the proposed approach contributes to a more resilient and efficient aquaculture ecosystem.

Dr. SK. Mahaboob basha, R. Pavan, Seetharam Nunsavath, B. Vardhan, & Ch. Sridhar. (2025). AI driven fish disease detection for accurate disease identification in aquatic life. International Journal of Data Science and IoT Management System, 4(3), 111–118. https://doi.org/10.64751/ijdim.2025.v4.n3.pp111-118

Abstract: Norway is the world’s largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), generating substantial profits. However, environmental and equity concerns related to the industry’s use of public resources, such as areas for fish farms in Norwegian fjords, challenge its public acceptance. In 2023, the Norwegian government implemented a resource rent tax on salmon farming, and the use of market-based instruments is now being considered to reduce environmental impacts. This study uses a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to assess Norwegian households’ preferences for reducing environmental impacts, specifically those concerning farmed salmon welfare and the effects of escaped salmon on wild populations. It also evaluates public attitudes toward the newly introduced resource rent tax and a proposed environmental tax. The results show public support for both taxes when combined. People have strong preferences for reducing environmental impacts, and particularly those with strong animal welfare concerns. By focusing on public acceptance of specific environmental impacts, this study provides information about people’s ranking of environmental improvements, which can guide policymakers in designing an environmental tax. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal level.

Berrios, A. M., Dugstad, A., & Navrud, S. (2026). Aquaculture in troubled waters? Public acceptance of the Norwegian Salmon farming industry and its environmental impacts. Aquaculture, 611, 743050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.743050

Abstract: Despite a growing interest in animal welfare in production systems, research on fish welfare remains limited, particularly in commercial fisheries. Fish caught in fixed-net fisheries experience multiple stressors from the time of capture to mortality on deck considered detrimental to their welfare. We examined the impact of bottom-set gill nets and on-board handling on catch welfare using behavioural and physiological indicators. Vitality assessments were performed on four commercially important fish species on-board fishing vessels through a devised vitality scale that included behaviours, morphological condition and reflexes as indicators of welfare. Physiological stress parameters (Cortisol, Glucose, Lactate and Osmolality) were evaluated in blood collected on deck and analysed in relation to the vitality scores. The vitality at arrival on deck as well as the rate of decrease in vitality differed significantly amongst the tested species. Furthermore, Generalised Linear Models predicted that several biological, operational, and environmental variables significantly affect the extent of time the fish shows activity, and hence, on the welfare. Elevated average cortisol levels were found at all the vitality stages highlighting the stress experienced by fish due to the fishing process. The findings of this study enable us to recommend welfare-friendly methods in set-net fisheries to promote better fishing standards.

Samel, V., Costa, R. A., Marçalo, A., Frade, M., Bentes, L., Saraiva, J. L., Gonçalves, J. M., & Guerreiro, P. M. (2025). Assessing fish welfare in small-scale commercial fixed-net fisheries off the southern Portuguese coast. BioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.27.667075v1.abstract

Abstract: Poor gill health compromises the health and welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) by causing respiratory distress and increased ventilation frequency. Poor gill health is caused by numerous factors, including amoebic gill disease (AGD), jellyfish stings, and toxic algae, and is monitored by fish farmers by manual ‘gill scoring’. Gill scoring involves visual inspection of gill surfaces for visible lesions, such as white mucoid patches. In commercial salmon farming, these patches are commonly associated with AGD, a major cause of poor gill health. Manual monitoring of gills is labour-intensive, costly, and stressful for fish. This study tested a non-invasive computer vision approach to detect the association between the gross gill score and fish ventilation rates in commercial farms. We hypothesised that increased ventilation rates of farmed Atlantic salmon were associated with a higher gross gill score. The computer vision model first detected fish heads and classified their mouth states (open or closed) using a convolutional neural network, followed by a tracking-by-detection method to estimate ventilation rates by calculating the frequency with which fish opened and closed their mouths. Ventilation rates were estimated from 240 videos recorded at Tasmanian salmon farms and analysed alongside gross gill score, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and fish weight. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a positive association between ventilation rates and gross gill score, although the observed change in ventilation rates was relatively small. As laboratory diagnostic methods did not confirm AGD in this study, the gross gill scores should be interpreted primarily as indicators of gill health, acknowledging that they may also reflect signs consistent with AGD. While the tested computer vision method cannot serve as a diagnostic tool, it may assist the industry in identifying health and welfare issues that require further examination. This approach provides a non-invasive way to oversee health and welfare, enhances management practices, and guides manual health assessments.

Vo, Q. L. K., Pitt, K. A., Johnston, C., Kennedy, B., & Folkman, L. (2025). Computer vision detects an association between gross gill score and ventilation rates in farmed atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Journal of Fish Diseases, e70055. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.70055

Abstract: Offshore salmon farms are being planned on the Norwegian Shelf. However, there are concerns of low oxygen levels within sea cages during periods of low water exchange. Hypoxia will compromise fish welfare and production performance, and it is therefore important to characterize oxygen dynamics at new offshore aquaculture sites. Here, we investigated oxygen variability in Norwegian waters by utilizing data from repeated sections and fisheries surveys collected between 2010 and 2023. In total more than 5000 profiles were analysed. Hypoxia was regularly observed in the inshore and fjord areas. However, no evidence for severe hypoxic conditions were seen on the shelf regions despite nutrients input being rather high. This lack of hypoxia at depth suggests that the cross-shelf exchange supplying oceanic water dominates the oxygen balance at the shelf relative to biological consumption. Meanwhile, seasonal cycles in oxygen, apparent oxygen utilization, temperature, and stratification were observed. Notably, oxygen saturations of 70–80% occasionally occurred offshore below the mixed layer during summer and fall. Such moderate hypoxia represents the initial conditions to be considered when planning cage sizes and allowable biomass. Since oxygen will not always be fully saturated, challenges with hypoxia within sea cages will likely prevail when moving offshore.

Skagseth, Ø., Oppedal, F., Søiland, H., & Hvas, M. (2025). Measured oxygen levels in Norwegian waters and implications for future offshore Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 29416. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12697-x

Abstract: Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) are frequently used as “cleaner fish” to control parasitic sea lice in salmonid fish farms, but it has been questioned whether the benefits in terms of sea louse control outweigh the economic and lumpfish-welfare costs involved. Here we estimated the efficacy of lumpfish in controlling salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) in salmonid farms by combining analyses of occurrence of salmon lice in stomach contents of lumpfish and experimental results on digestion time. We then conducted scenario simulations of salmon louse dynamics in salmonid fish farms, by combining the lumpfish feeding model with a lumpfish growth model and a salmon louse population model. Results showed that at a mean lumpfish weight of 50 g and typical conditions for other factors (9 °C, 2 kg salmonids, and 0.8 pre-adult and adult salmon lice per salmonid), the estimated feeding rate was 0.17 salmon lice per lumpfish per day (95 % confidence interval: 0.12–0.22). This rate increased with salmon louse concentration, temperature and salmonid weight and decreased with lumpfish weight. Scenario simulations of salmon louse dynamics under conditions representative for salmonid farms in Norway suggested that stocking lumpfish from the start of the production cycle with a 1:10 lumpfish per salmon ratio on average postponed the first salmon louse treatment by 43 days. The longest postponement was at intermediate external infestation pressure. Scenario simulations for a network of farms suggested that coordinated and strategic use of lumpfish after a spring treatment may succeed in supressing salmon louse outbreaks through spring and summer.

Stige, L. C., Aldrin, M., Engebretsen, S., Rafoss, T., & Jansen, P. A. (2026). The efficacy of lumpfish in controlling salmon lice in fish farms. Aquaculture, 612, 743137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.743137

Abstract: Nowadays, there are several factors shaping consumers’ attitudes and consumption habits towards processed meat and fish products in many countries including Morocco. This study focuses on the assessment of Moroccan consumers’ behaviors and preferences towards processed meat and fish products. In this study, an online survey was conducted involving 1003 Moroccan consumers. The findings suggest that the consumption habits, or lack thereof, of processed meat and fish products among Moroccan individuals is associated with a range of factors, including economic considerations, health concerns, and the consumers’ sociodemographic characteristics. The data revealed that a majority of Moroccan consumers were ready to purchase meat and fish products with added natural preservatives for the shelf life extension, with only 17.3% of respondents less likely to purchase it. Growing consumer attentiveness in natural preservatives for shelf-life prolongation could improve their satisfaction.

Ghaffouli, C., Faiz, K., Roukbani, A., & Louasté, B. (2025). Assessment of Moroccan consumer preferences and purchasing behaviors related to meat and fish products. Discover Food, 5(1), 271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00567-4

Abstract:

Purpose

We aim to investigate how retail marketing levers influence the market share for different plant-based alternative (PBA) product categories compared to conventional counterparts across varying levels of urbanization.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes four years (2020–2023) of panel data on sales of PB and conventional products in the Italian modern grocery distribution sector. The data, aggregated at a provincial level, is segmented into three urbanization levels (predominantly urban, intermediate and predominantly rural) defined based on consumers’ residential locations according to the Eurostat urban–rural typology. The analysis employs fixed effects regression models to examine the influence of marketing levers (assortment, price and price-based promotions) on the market share of PBAs.

Findings

The results indicate that there is a significant association between store assortment and PBAs market share across all urbanization levels, with the strongest correlation in rural areas. Price-based promotions have the most substantial correlation in urban areas, while relative price differences are not significant drivers of market share. Product category-specific analysis reveals significant variations: assortment consistently improves PBAs demand, whereas relative price and price-based promotions exhibit mixed effects depending on the product and urbanization level.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that retailers should differentiate their strategies to the specific urbanization context to effectively promote PBAs. Deepening the assortment of PBAs is effective, especially in rural areas, while targeted price-based promotional activities are more effective in urban settings.

Originality/value

To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the role of the retailer in influencing consumer behavior toward PBAs using an actual sales dataset. Moreover, it is the first to analyze how consumer behavior changes according to different levels of urbanization.

Caccialanza, Andrea, Casati, Mirta, Muzzillo, Margherita, Ghezzi, I., & Alessandro. (2025). How retail marketing levers influence demand for plant-based products: a revealed preference analysis across food categories and urbanization levels. British Food Journal. https://www.emerald.com/bfj/article/doi/10.1108/BFJ-10-2024-1093/1272049

Abstract: Reducing meat consumption is increasingly recognized as a necessary strategy for mitigating climate change and improving public health. While motivations to reduce meat intake are well documented, few studies have integrated these with basic human values to understand dietary behaviour. This paper addresses this gap by examining how environmental, health, and animal welfare motivations interact with value orientations based on the Schwartz’s theory of basic human values to influence consumers’ willingness to adopt an additional meat‐free day per week. By integrating motivational and value-based frameworks in a Central Eastern European context, this study offers a novel, multidimensional perspective on dietary transitions. Based on a representative sample of 1031 Hungarian adults surveyed in 2021 we employ Kruskal–Wallis and Bonferroni-corrected post hoc Dunn’s tests, along with ordered logit regression models to explore how specific motivations interact with value orientations and socio-demographic factors. Our findings indicate that health concerns are the most compelling driver of dietary change, while environmental and animal welfare considerations have a more modest influence. Moreover, a strong social orientation as presented in the Schwartz theory appears to reinforce the willingness to modify eating habits, independent of the motivational source. These results imply that policies emphasizing health benefits and fostering community cohesion could be more effective than information-based interventions alone in promoting sustainable dietary practices and shaping culturally sensitive, value-aligned food policies.

Benedek, Z., Baráth, L., Fertő, I., & Bakucs, Z. (2025). How to encourage people to follow a climate-friendly diet? Increase social cohesion! Sustainable Futures, 10, 101106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101106

Abstract:

Purpose

Sustainability includes social, health, and environmental aspects. Sustainability labels enable consumers to make more sustainable food choices. This study assessed how a representative sample of Norwegian consumers valued different sustainability dimensions and identified their preferences for the number of dimensions to include in a potential sustainability label for food, identified groups of consumers who want information regarding different dimensions of sustainability when purchasing food, and identified potential measures to increase sustainable food consumption as part of the NewTools project.

Results

Less food waste (53 %) and animal welfare (50 %) were deemed the most important dimensions for a sustainable food system, while reduced meat production (21 %) and organic production (18 %) the least important dimensions. A single label that includes information on social and environmental sustainability and healthiness of food was the most preferred (23 %). Those who perceived that their present diet was sustainable had higher odds of wanting information regarding environmental sustainability (OR 2.91, C·I 1.75, 4.86), social sustainability (OR 3.24, C·I 1.97, 5.31) and health (OR 2.42, C·I 1.33, 4.41) when purchasing food compared to those who perceived that they consumed a less sustainable diet. Finally, the most widely supported measure for increasing sustainable food consumption was lowering prices (57 %) and more time for cooking among those who reported consuming less sustainable diets (20 %).

Conclusion

While more comprehensive sustainability labeling is favored, it will likely benefit those who already consume sustainable diets. Future research should investigate measures related to, for example, price and convenience to target less motivated consumers.

Terragni, L., Løvhaug, A. L., Bjørkum, E., Grönberg, A., Bjerkheim, S., Lund-Iversen, K., & Morseth, M. S. (2025). Identifying preferences for sustainability labeling and measures to increase sustainable food consumption among Norwegian consumers. Food Quality and Preference, 134, 105673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105673

Abstract: Which interventions produce the largest and most enduring reductions in consumption of meat and animal products (MAP)? We address this question with a theoretical review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that measured MAP consumption at least one day after intervention. We meta-analyze 35 papers comprising 41 studies, 112 interventions, and approximately 87,000 subjects. We find that these papers employ four major strategies to change behavior: choice architecture, persuasion, psychology (manipulating the interpersonal, cognitive, or affective factors associated with eating MAP), and a combination of persuasion and psychology. The pooled effect of all 112 interventions on MAP consumption is quite small (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.07 (95 % CI: [0.02, 0.12]), indicating an unsolved problem. Interventions aiming to reduce only consumption of red and processed meat were more effective (SMD = 0.25; 95 % CI: [0.11, 0.38]), but it remains unclear whether such interventions also decrease consumption of other forms of MAP. We conclude that while existing approaches do not provide a proven remedy to MAP consumption, designs and measurement strategies have generally been improving over time, and many promising interventions await rigorous evaluation.

Green, S. A., Smith, B., & Mathur, M. (2025). Meaningfully reducing consumption of meat and animal products is an unsolved problem: A meta-analysis. Appetite, 108233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108233

Abstract: High global meat consumption presents significant environmental challenges. Interventions to reduce meat consumption, such as carbon labelling, have shown modest and inconsistent results, a phenomenon potentially explained by an “environmentalist bias.” This paper introduces and tests a consumer-centric “nudge by proxy” approach, which indirectly encourages choices that mitigate or obviate external costs by addressing consumers’ internal motivations. First, a consumer survey of 1,500 UK students identified “protein” as the most significant perceived barrier to adopting a meat-free diet. Subsequently, two choice experiments (N = 3,000) were conducted. Experiment 1 demonstrated that labelling the protein content significantly increased selection of the meat-free option over a meat-based counterpart when compared to both a control group (p < 0.001) and a carbon label group (p < 0.001). Experiment 2 confirmed the efficacy of the protein nudge, showing it had significantly increased the choice of a separate meat-free option by over 100% compared to a control group (p < 0.001). The paper concludes by discussing the importance of consumer engagement and addressing two illusions with future research: the “insufficiency illusion” whereby consumers falsely believe meat-free options to be lacking in a key area, and the “availability illusion,” when meat-free options are available but are genuinely lacking. The author advocates for a practical dual-pronged approach that both reveals and creates better options for the consumer.

Macdonald, C. (2025). Reducing meat consumption with consumer insights and the nudge by proxy: the anomaly of asking, the power of protein, and illusions of insufficiency and availability. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1656336

Abstract:

Background

Individual meat consumption in Germany has fallen slightly in recent years, but still exceeds the recommended quantities. High meat consumption has negative impacts both on human health and the environment. This study intends to identify which population groups in Germany may have already reduced their meat consumption, based on which motives, and to capture the willingness to limit future consumption.

Methods

Analyses are based on representative data from 3,178 adults living in Germany, collected in a cross-sectional, standardized telephone survey (German Health Update) in 2022. Differences between population groups are identified using chi-squared tests and logistic regression models. Results are presented with 95% confidence limits.

Results

72% of the population intentionally avoid meat consumption at least occasionally. About half of the population intends to eat less meat in the future or already never eat meat. 23% have no current or future intention to limit their meat consumption. Women and higher educated persons more often claim to intentionally avoid meat consumption, currently and for the future. Those who currently eat meat less often are more likely to intend further reduction compared to those who eat meat frequently. The predominant motive for reducing meat consumption is “health” followed by “climate and environmental protection” and “animal welfare”. Climate protection as a motive for reducing meat consumption is more often mentioned by young persons and women, whereas health benefits are more important for persons aged 65 years and older.

Conclusion

A large proportion of the population already cuts down on meat consumption, at least occasionally. On the other hand, consumption levels in Germany are still very high. Climate and environment protection already play an important role for meat reduction, and may help leverage the transition to a more plant-based and healthier diet in the population.

Richter, A., Wagner, J., Moosburger, R., Mensink, G. B. M., & Loss, J. (2025). Reducing meat consumption: Results from a German survey on attitudes, behaviour and willingness to change among adults. Plos One, 20(8), e0328346. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328346

Abstract:

Background:

Decreasing  meat  and  animal  product  consumption  is  a  critical element of the EAT-Lancet directive to improve human and planetary health, but scalable, effective solutions remain elusive. Plant-based meat analogues (PMAs)are widely touted as a promising approach, but the extent to which PMAs reduce demand for meat remains unknown.

Methods:

We  examined  whether  offering  more  PMA-containing  dishes  on  a restaurant  menu  decreases  meat  consumption,  and  whether  offering  a  novel chicken-like  PMA  specifically  decreases  chicken  consumption.  In  this  preregistered, randomized controlled online experiment, 4,431 English-speaking American  adults  viewed  the  menu  from  Chipotle,  a  popular  chain  restaurant.  We exactly reproduced the restaurant’s real menu, except that we randomly manipulated the number of PMAs (zero, one, or two). When one PMA was offered, it was sofritas, a PMA designed by Chipotle. When two were offered, they were sofritas and “chick’nitas,” a fictitious PMA resembling chicken (in contrast, softritas did not emulate any specific meat). As the primary outcome measure, participants chose a filling for their taco.

Results:

Adding  one  or  two  PMAs  to  the  menu  did  not  meaningfully  reduce the proportion of participants selecting animal-based meat. Offering one PMA (sofritas)  versus  none  produced  only a negligible 1.14  percentage point  (pp)decrease in meat selection (95% CI [-1.02, 3.30], p = .30). For two PMAs (sofritas and chick’nitas) versus none, the estimated decrease was a negligible 2.14 pp (95%CI [-0.08, 4.36], p = .06). The availability of a chicken PMA may have slightly reduced demand for chicken (40.8% ordered chicken in the No-PMA Arm, 39.2%if only the nonspecific sofritas PMA was available, and 35.6% if chick’nitas was also offered).

Conclusion:

Offering more PMAs did not meaningfully reduce meat consump-tion,  and  instead  reduced  demand  for  other  vegetarian  options.  Overall,  our findings do not support the hypothesis that expanding PMA offerings alone can meaningfully shift consumer choices away from meat

Hope, J. E., Green, S. A., Peacock, J. R., & Mathur, M. (2025). Taking a bite out of meat, or just giving fresh veggies the boot? Plant-based meats did not reduce meat purchasing in a randomized controlled menu intervention. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/z6rn2_v1

Abstract: This study investigates the role of climate anxiety in motivating meat reduction intentions due to concerns about climate change. Data are from a nationally representative sample from the UK (N = 1632). Climate anxiety was measured using the Climate Change Anxiety Scale. The study also accounted for dietary, pro-climate identity, and pro-ecological beliefs. The study found high levels of climate anxiety among sub-groups in the sample, including younger respondents and respondents who perceived climate change as important. Although the levels of climate anxiety were generally low, the results of the regression analyses showed that climate anxiety positively predicted meat reduction intentions. Additionally, it was shown that climate-related considerations play a more significant role in meat consumption intentions than other factors such as sociodemographic characteristics. These findings suggest that negative emotions such as climate anxiety could be a potentially relevant motivation to address the transition to more sustainable diets.

Boaitey, A. (2025). Too anxious to eat? Climate anxiety and intentions to reduce meat in the UK. Food Quality and Preference, 134, 105649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105649

Abstract: Understanding the impacts of protein production systems is necessary to plan the just transition of food systems. We analysed 285 studies to assess the impacts of 13 protein systems across 25 indicators under five key categories—natural capital, human capital, social capital, produced capital and governance. Nine protein systems (regenerative, organic, rangelands, free-range poultry, sustainable energy cultivated meat, conventional energy cultivated meat, mixed grains and livestock, pastoralists and plant-based) have overall positive impacts across all five categories. In comparison, four protein systems have negative impacts (small-scale beef, caged poultry, industrial pork, and confined feeding operations). We then used this in-depth assessment to develop five ‘what if’ future scenarios to track and assess the transition of protein production systems to 2050. Rapid reduction of industrial production may contribute to a just and inclusive transition of protein production systems. This assessment can help reduce risks associated with negative impacts and assist in governing and managing protein production systems towards long-term sustainability.

Sandhu, H., Sexton, A., Joshi, P., Recht, L., Chakraborty, A., & Sandhu, S. (2025). Impact assessment for just transition of protein production systems. Plos One, 20(8), e0328789. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0328789

Abstract: This study examines the rhetorical strategies employed in animal agriculture communication to maintain the legitimacy of meat as an institution amidst growing ethical concerns about animal welfare and the animal-as-food logic. By analysing the public discourses of the Spanish animal agriculture interbranch organisations, we propose a rhetorical strategy that we call pivoting, which consists of three rhetorical moves: silencing, amplifying, and hollowing. Silencing diverts the audience’s attention from the ethical implications of animal exploitation. In contrast, the credibility and authority of farmers are rhetorically amplified by portraying them as benevolent stewards of cultural values, territories, and societal well-being. Hollowing, in turn, frames animal welfare as merely a good business practice, obscuring the debates about the moral considerations that underpin welfarism and other ethical perspectives on non-human animals. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of discourses in shaping the evolving values underpinning animal agriculture, revealing how the lobbying voice of the animal agriculture industry association can stifle divergent moral perspectives about animals within the sector. Additionally, they expand theoretical typologies of institutional work by providing evidence of the rhetorical strategies used to maintain the normative foundations of a societal institution. Furthermore, this study highlights the need to promote a critical understanding of meat production and its ethical implications, challenging the entrenched anthropocentric speciesism within the food system.

Díaz, E. M., Merino, A., & Nuñez-Partido, A. (2025). The sounds of silence: ‘Pivoting’ as a rhetorical strategy of the animal farming industry to maintain the institution of meat. Agriculture and Human Values, 42(3), 2129–2150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10759-4

Abstract: Around the world studies reveal alarmingly high suicide rates amongst farmers compared to the general population. With over 90% of young farmers citing mental health as the biggest hidden danger facing UK farming today, the topic has come under widespread concern. This paper explores a previously under examined aspect of farmer mental health: the emotional and moral burden of raising animals for slaughter. Survey responses from 287 UK residents who currently or previously worked in agriculture or related fields, including 115 current or former livestock farmers, were examined for their levels of moral concern, emotional distress, and their openness to alternative farming models. Participants were also given the opportunity to respond to an optional open-ended question expanding on their experiences. These responses were then used to illustrate key findings. Results suggested that many livestock farmers surveyed experienced moral dissonance and emotional suppression, with some reporting feelings of guilt, trauma, or distress associated with sending animals to slaughter. A substantial portion of participants (63%) expressed openness to reducing their livestock numbers, provided accessible and viable alternatives are available. These findings challenge dominant narratives about farmer resistance to change and highlight the importance of addressing both the psychological and structural dimensions of working in animal agriculture. We conclude with clear and actionable policy recommendations aimed at improving farmer wellbeing and supporting voluntary diversification to promote a more resilient and compassionate agricultural sector.

Flores, C., Knowles, R., Bryant, C., Eccles, S., & Vasanthakumar, M. (2025). ‘Death by a thousand cuts’: The role of moral distress and moral injury in farmer mental ill-health. Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, 38(3), 18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-025-09955-3

Abstract: This report explores how farmed animal advocacy orgs can meaningfully integrate DEI into their missions and practices without compromising strategic clarity. Grounded in qualitative interviews with BIPOC advocates and movement leaders, as well as desk research on over 200 organizations, it examines persistent barriers to inclusion and offers pathways for transformation.

Brown, A., Polanco, A., Troy, A., & Thompkin, A. (2025). From performative to transformative: Navigating equity & inclusion across a diverse animal advocacy movement. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/from-performative-to-transformative-balancing-inclusivity/

Abstract: Historically, conservation has focused on species, ecological communities, systems and processes, rather than on individual animals. Even among advocates for compassionate conservation, the focus on animal welfare or animal rights only relates to conservation activities. However, in recent years the idea of managing ecosystems primarily to improve wild animal welfare has been gaining traction among animal ethicists and animal welfare researchers. Managing ecosystems for animal welfare is generally antithetical to management to support ecological and evolutionary processes, since essential features of those processes, such as predation, privation and competition, are sources of animal suffering. Our aim in this paper is not to defend the proposal that ecosystem management should focus primarily on improving wild animal welfare. It is, rather, to situate this proposal in relation to concerns about wild animal welfare expressed by the public and conservation biologists; to connect it to the rise of subjectivist theories of animal welfare; to introduce the ethical arguments used to support elevating the importance of individual wild animals; to explain the advocacy context; to outline potential implications for conservation; and to review critiques of taking a wild animal welfare focus in ecosystem management.

Sandler, R., & Palmer, C. (2025). The emerging movement against wild animal suffering and its potential implications for conservation. Oryx, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060532510152X

Abstract:

This case study examines the evolution and impact of corporate-focused strategies in animal advocacy with a specific focus on farm animal welfare. Historically, 19th- and early 20th-century humane movements largely overlooked farm animal suffering, an oversight exacerbated by the mid-20th century’s rise of industrial agriculture and factory farming, which kept the harsh conditions of billions of animals invisible to consumers and most advocates.

However, the 21st century marked a significant shift, with campaigners adopting pragmatic strategies aimed at transforming corporate supply chains. Organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, The Humane League, Open Wing Alliance, Compassion in World Farming, and Mercy for Animals successfully persuaded major food and agribusiness corporations to improve farm animal conditions. This shift has led to over 3,000 companies worldwide—including major global brands such as McDonald’s and Starbucks—pledging to source “cage-free” eggs and “crate-free” pork. These corporate commitments have resulted in measurable improvements, removing billions of hens from battery cages and enhancing conditions for sows.

The study identifies five key findings:

• Corporate engagement became necessary due to limited governmental intervention in animal welfare.
• Corporate campaigns flourished from the early 2000s due to a more pragmatic and less divisive advocacy approach.
• Effectiveness stemmed from organizational innovations in tactics and funding models.
• Agrifood companies became structurally vulnerable to reputational risk, yet capable of managing it, creating both opportunities and constraints for advocates.
• Ongoing challenges for farm animal advocacy highlight the need for continuous strategic innovation.
• The research employs an inductive, qualitative methodology, drawing on academic texts, interviews with animal advocates, strategy documents, media reports, and government documents.

Despite measurable successes in improving the lives of farmed animals, challenges persist for animal advocates, including difficulties in enforcing corporate commitments, strategic risks such as institutional isomorphism, and the continuously rising global demand for meat, dairy, and seafood, particularly in the Global South where advocacy is more challenging.

Hamilton, S. (2025) The farm animal welfare movement’s corporate campaigns. Urban Institute. https://www.urban.org/research/publication/farm-animal-welfare-movements-corporate-campaigns