October 2025

Abstract:

• Background
  • The psychology of eating meat has emerged as a major field of study due to growing awareness of the negative impacts of excessive meat consumption on human and planetary health. Examining psychological profiles and testing strategies to address psychological barriers to meat reduction has become a prominent focus in psychology and various other disciplines. However, given the critical importance of psychometrically valid measurement tools in quantitative research, it is concerning that studies have largely relied on unvalidated, ad hoc survey instruments to measure meat consumption. To address this methodological gap this study aimed to develop and conduct an initial validation of a self-report questionnaire to measure an individual’s meat consumption and meat-eating intentions.
• Methods
  • The questionnaire was developed and evaluated through exploratory factor analysis (sample 1: N = 183 Australians) and confirmatory factor analysis (sample 2: N = 495 Australians). Construct validity was evaluated by confirming the scale’s underlying factor structure and through correlations with demographic variables and ten theoretically related constructs. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with mean inter-item correlations, corrected total-item correlations, and coefficient H.
• Results
  • Exploratory factor analysis did not identify a latent meat-eating intention scale, but did reveal a unidimensional latent factor representing total land-based meat consumption, which was named The Meat Consumption Scale (MCS). Confirmatory factor analysis verified the unidimensional structure of the MCS, with all model fit indices demonstrating excellent model fit. All correlations between the MCS and ten theoretically related constructs and demographic variables were significant and in the hypothesised directions, providing preliminary evidence of construct validity. Internal consistency reliability of the MCS was acceptable in both samples when evaluated by mean inter-item correlations and corrected item-total correlations, though coefficient H fell just shy of the recommended threshold.
• Conclusions
  • Findings provide preliminary evidence of reliability and construct validity of The Meat Consumption Scale (MCS), which is the first psychometrically evaluated tool designed to measure an individual’s meat consumption using a fast (< 5 min) one-time assessment. This 12-item self-report questionnaire measures consumption of land-based meats—red meat (beef and lamb), poultry products, pork products, and other processed meats—over the past two-week period and is indicative of typical Western meat-eating patterns. The MCS is designed for cross-sectional and experimental research and applied contexts. Further validation of the scale, including assessment of criterion and discriminant validity and cross-cultural adaptations, is recommended.

Camilleri, L., Jago, A., Rehman, A., & Gill, P. R. (2025). Development and preliminary validation of the Meat Consumption Scale. BMC Psychology, 13(1), 1193. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03270-2

Summary: While ultra-processed plant-based foods are less healthy than whole plant foods, they may offer better cardiometabolic outcomes than unprocessed animal-based products. As transitional tools, products such as plant-based milks, meat analogs, and margarine may facilitate dietary shifts. Public health guidance should reflect these nuances to support realistic, health-promoting transitions.

Del Carmen Fernández-Fígares Jiménez, M., & López-Moreno, M. (2025). Ultra-processed plant foods: Are they worse than their unprocessed animal-based counterparts? Current Nutrition Reports, 14(1), 115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-025-00704-6

Abstract: In light of the need to reduce reliance on meat, advancing a protein transition requires a clearer understanding of how different protein sources are embedded in everyday eating. This study explored both the content and context of eating occasions among UK adults who identified as omnivores or flexitarians (N = 1,212). 24-h dietary recall data was used to capture both the foods and beverages consumed, along with their associated situational, temporal, and social factors. Results showed that 19.1 % of dinners (i.e., evening meals) and 39.5 % of lunches were meat-free (defined here as meatless occasions containing either vegetarian protein or low protein), compared to >80 % for breakfast and snacks. Meat-free occasions were generally consumed with fewer components that typically lend compositional structure to main meals—such as potatoes and vegetable sides. Meat-free vegetarian protein occasions were more often consumed with habitual breakfast items like cereal and milk, while meat-free low protein eating occasions often lacked structure altogether and contained discretionary (e.g., sweets and salted snack) foods. Compared to meat-based occasions, meat-free vegetarian protein occasions more frequently occurred at breakfast, and meat-free low protein occasions more frequently occurred as snacks. Both were commonly consumed at home, alone, and in short durations. These findings reveal that what people eat, as well as how, when, and with whom they eat it, are all important elements of the everyday realities of protein consumption—offering valuable insights for efforts to support the protein transition.

Erhard, A. L., Andersen, G. B. H., Cardello, A. V., & Jaeger, S. R. (2025). Protein in context: Exploring the content and context of meat-free and meat-based eating occasions among UK adults. Appetite, 108347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108347

Abstract: Entomophagy, or the consumption of insects, is increasingly recognized as a component of sustainable food systems, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering resource use, and improving animal welfare. Nevertheless, it continues to face resistance in Western societies, mainly driven by psychological, cultural, and emotional factors. This study aimed to explore gender differences in emotional and cognitive attitudes toward edible insects—understood as variations in knowledge, acceptance, and emotional responses to the idea of insect consumption.

This study involved 227 students from the Wrocław University of Economics and Business (53% women, 47% men). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing their knowledge and attitudes toward entomophagy before and after viewing a short educational video. At the same time, their emotional responses were recorded using FaceReader software, which analyzes facial expressions in real time.

The results showed that women experienced more frequent and intense negative emotions (such as sadness, anger, and disgust) and demonstrated greater emotional variability than men, who remained more neutral and emotionally consistent. However, women were also more likely to shift their attitudes after watching the video, more often expressing increased acceptance of insects as part of their diet, particularly when presented in invisible forms (e.g., insect flour). The strongest predictor of rejection was disgust, which was notably higher among female participants.

These findings suggest that gender plays a significant role in shaping responses to entomophagy. Integrating self-reported data with real-time emotional analysis can offer a more nuanced understanding of the psychological barriers to insect consumption. The results also underscore the importance of tailoring educational strategies and communication efforts to different levels of emotional sensitivity to effectively promote sustainable dietary choices.

Orkusz, A., Ostasiewicz, K., & Yotova, M. (2025). Does gender matter? Emotional and cognitive attitudes toward entomophagy. MDPI https://sciforum.net/paper/view/25473 

Abstract: Smart livestock farming technologies, such as automatic milking systems, wearable sensors, virtual fencing, and digital health tools, are increasingly promoted as ways to improve efficiency, animal welfare, and sustainability in animal agriculture. However, their long-term legitimacy depends not only on technical performance but also on how producers, consumers, citizens, and the general public perceive and adopt them. Yet knowledge remains limited on how different actors view smart livestock farming technology applications. This scoping review synthesizes findings from 50 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025. Most studies examined farmers (70%), while fewer focused on consumers/citizens (12%), stakeholders (16%), or veterinarians (2%). Dairy systems were studied most often (42%), followed by mixed species (38%) and swine (14%). Commonly investigated technologies included sensors (24%), digital/AI applications (22%), and automatic milking systems (18%). Thematic emphases centered on perceptions and acceptance (34%) and adoption/diffusion (30%), with fewer studies addressing impacts, markets, or governance. Evidence shows that farm size, education, age, and digital competence strongly influence adoption, while trust, animal welfare concerns, and message framing shape consumer and citizen acceptance. Veterinarians, who themselves require technological support, could benefit from technology for remote diagnostics and enhanced data-driven analysis, yet their potential role in mediating uptake remains underutilized. Across groups, barriers include cost, usability, workload, and data governance, while enablers include training, peer networks, and transparent communication. Diverging perceptions between producers and the public highlight tensions between efficiency-driven narratives and concerns about naturalness and welfare. Addressing these tensions through participatory design, responsible governance, and alignment with societal values will be essential for PLF to fulfill both its technical promise and social acceptance.

Akinyemi, B. E., & Siegford, J. (2025). Human perceptions of smart farming technologies: A systematic scoping review. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5673171

Abstract: We often face grave practical decisions that seem to hinge on whether a system is sentient. This family of cases includes invertebrate animals, people who are unresponsive after brain injury, fetuses, neural organoids, and now AI technologies. We must decide what to do despite ongoing disagreement about the nature of sentience. In our state of uncertainty, we should pragmatically transform the question from “Is it sentient?” to “Is it a sentience candidate, an investigation priority, or neither?”. When a system is a sentience candidate, it is negligent to fail to consider precautions. We should instead evaluate precautions for their proportionality using the “PARC tests”. When we think about the problems in this way, we see that overconfidence about the absence of sentience has repeatedly led decision makers to neglect serious risks. Erring on the side of caution requires many revisions to current practice in many areas of human activity.

Birch, J. (2025). Précis of the edge of sentience: Risk and precaution in humans, other animals, and AI. Animal Sentience, 10(38). https://doi.org/10.51291/2377-7478.1893

Abstract: The transmission of infectious diseases in livestock threatens food security, animal welfare, and rural economies. Traditional contact tracing methods are ineffective in large-scale mobile agriculture systems due to limitations in scalability, infrastructure, and privacy. We introduce SafeHerd, a scalable, privacy-preserving framework for tracing epidemic contact in cattle farming. The system employs a hybrid sensing architecture: Bluetooth-enabled “leader” devices perform secure proximity exchanges with other leaders and detect passive RFID/NFC “follower” tags. Proximity events are recorded using ephemeral ECDHE exchanges and ECDSA signatures. Contact logs undergo local statistical filtering based on Poisson models and are then classified using lightweight machine learning algorithms at the farm gateway. Verified exposure tokens are anonymized and submitted to a central authority, which processes them through a layered AI pipeline that includes Isolation Forests, Autoencoders, DBSCAN, and LSTM encoders. Designed for intermittent connectivity and ESP32-class hardware, SafeHerd achieves strong performance in latency, memory usage, and communication overhead. By integrating cryptographically secure IoT sensing with decentralized AI analytics, SafeHerd enables efficient and reliable epidemic monitoring tailored to livestock environments.

Boussada, R., Nasraoui, L., & Azouz Saidane, L. (2025). SafeHerd: A privacy-preserving AI-powered solution for secure epidemic contact tracing in smart agriculture. Annals of Telecommunications. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-025-01132-x

Implications: We are seeing an increasing reliance in animal farming—and the production of cereals for animal feed—on techno-fixes to address problems such as water and air pollution. This is taking us increasingly into large-scale intensive farming which has inherent limitations on the ability to achieve good animal welfare. Policies designed to address the environment and climate often pay little regard to animal welfare. Many high-tech approaches to reducing greenhouse gases and nitrogen emissions require that animals are confined indoors where it is more challenging to facilitate natural behavior and to provide them with appropriate space and comfort.

To address this danger, high welfare standards must be recognized as an inherent component of good food production systems and an intrinsic element of sustainability. Refinement of the sustainability concept to include animal welfare as the fourth supporting pillar is key to achieving this. In doing so we acknowledge the complexity of the problems faced by livestock production and advocate a move away from reductionist solutions.

Boyle, Laura, Stevenson, & Peter. (2025). Sustainability of livestock production: Raising the profile of animal welfare and the risks with “techno-fixes.” Animal Frontiers, 15. https://academic.oup.com/af/article/15/5/47/8285771 

Abstract: Generating a population of livestock animals that is resilient to environmental challenges requires identifying those that have the capacity to cope with changes within their current conditions (i.e., plasticity). Technological advancements have progressed sufficiently to realistically monitor the feeding behavior of individual livestock animals while they are housed in large groups. Monitoring individual animal consumption patterns while in commercially relevant social group sizes and under real-world management strategies presents an opportunity to identify specific individuals that are well suited to the current and future commercial production environments. Historically, many animals in production settings have been monitored and evaluated as groups, an assessment strategy that is vulnerable to overlooking the welfare challenges of individuals in favor of group averages and omits the opportunity to identify individuals that are thriving (or suffering) in their current paradigm. Understanding how individual animals consume feed and interact with their environment can facilitate the characterization of behavioral phenotypes for either feed efficiency, water efficiency, thermotolerance, or social tolerance. Consumption patterns are controlled by neurological (e.g., autonomic nervous system, limbic system) and hormonal mechanisms (e.g., serotonergic system, ghrelin and leptin cycles), thus, evaluating individual feeding behavior can be used to identify behavioral phenotypes that inform genetic selection efforts. Precision feeding efforts can improve welfare by 1) using data to characterize behavioral phenotypes and identify real-time responses to consumption patterns, 2) early detection of injury or disease onset, and 3) assurances that all individuals within a group are accessing adequate nutrition. While many of the physical technologies needed to collect feeding data have been developed, and their costs have been decreasing over time, the new frontier in our understanding of individual feeding behavior is in the analysis, interpretation, and relevance to other traits important (e.g., water efficiency, thermotolerance, aggression) to regenerative agriculture.

Daigle, C. L. (2025). Precision livestock feeding for improving animal welfare. Journal of Animal Science, 103(Supplement_3), 12–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf300.015

Abstract: Smart farming technology has the potential to increase both efficiency and animal welfare. Despite these advantages, many livestock farmers are still reluctant to invest, citing uncertainty over return on investment. Demonstrating real benefits in practice is therefore essential for the new technologies to be widely adopted. This study aimed to determine whether smart camera technology can provide sufficient extra information about broiler chicken welfare to justify the extra investment involved. The study was carried out on farms on two continents with an emphasis on the welfare of very young chicks and to demonstrate the value of smart camera technology. Three outcome measures of broiler chicken health and welfare – mortality, hockburn and foot pad dermatitis – were predicted together with the key productivity measure of Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), both with and without information from the smart camera system (OpticFlock). The first analysis used standard data widely collected on commercial broiler farms – water use, body weight and feed:water ratio plus information from the smart camera system. The second analysis used the same data but left out all camera data. The third analysis used camera information alone. The results showed that the combination of smart camera data and standard measures of water use, feed:water ratio and weight gave earlier and more accurate prediction than either alone. The results show that a smart system can aid the detection and prediction of welfare problems, enabling farmers to proactively implement corrective measures and assess welfare throughout life.

Dawkins, M. S., Ellwood, S., Roberts, S., Weathers, K. B., & Donnelly, C. A. (2025). The benefits of smart farming: Broiler chicken welfare is indicated earlier and more accurately with automated measurements of flock behaviour. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12, 101500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101500

Abstract: On a traditional top-down experimental approach to consciousness science, researchers start by investigating consciousness in humans, or closely related living animals, based on evidence from experimental paradigms that aim to directly disentangle conscious from unconscious processing. Only afterward are these insights (iteratively) extended beyond the human case to investigate and understand how consciousness is distributed more broadly. In A Philosophy for the Science of Animal Consciousness, Walter Veit radically departs from this approach by taking a Copernican turn in suggesting that we should first understand consciousness’ simple beginnings, and only afterward make sense of how these humble beginnings further complexified. Central to Veit’s approach is abruptly removing the reliance on insights about human consciousness by suggesting that evolutionary considerations can provide a credible source of evidence that can independently and directly support hypotheses about consciousness. My aim here is two-fold. Firstly, I will argue that using evolutionary considerations to support hypotheses about consciousness this way is problematic for principled reasons. The consequence is that evolutionary considerations fail to convincingly support Veit’s central hypothesis: That consciousness’ function is to enable organisms to deal with high pathological complexity. However, secondly, I will suggest that these considerations can nevertheless support an adjacent hypothesis: That an evaluative mode of being is required in general to deal with high pathological complexity irrespective of how consciousness is involved. Taken together, I conclude that consciousness science should not be turned upside down, and that Veit’s central hypotheses are better understood as hypotheses not directly concerned with consciousness.

de Weerd, C. R. (2025). As above, so below? The limits of evolutionary considerations for supporting hypotheses about consciousness. Adaptive Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/10597123251387493

Abstract: Consumer demand for animal welfare is rising, leading to the use of welfare labels that emphasize enhanced conditions for farm animals. However, on the farmers’ side, complying with these standards often requires extensive and burdensome documentation. Precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies can simplify the collection of animal welfare data, such as health, behavior, and environmental conditions, thus reducing the documentation burden and enhancing transparency. To investigate current practices in animal welfare data collection on dairy farms and evaluate farmers’ willingness to share this data with relevant institutions, a survey among 269 dairy farmers in Germany was conducted between June and September 2024. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEqM) was applied. Trust in data security and clear on-farm benefits—such as time savings and reduced documentation workload—emerge as the strongest drivers, whereas perceived consumer benefits and social pressure play minor roles. Farmers are more inclined to share productivity and housing data, whereas health and behavioral data are probably perceived as more sensitive and thus less likely to be shared. Furthermore, farmers prefer private schemes over public authorities. These insights suggest that transparent data-governance rules and demonstrable farm-level advantages are pivotal levers for unlocking PLF data flows. Embedding such enabling conditions in animal welfare programs could streamline documentation, cut audit costs, increase farmer participation, strengthen consumer confidence in animal welfare labels, and provide guidance for policy and program design.

Grotsch, H., Achilles, C., Kühl, S., Mergenthaler, M., & Schulze, H. (2025). Factors influencing dairy farmers’ willingness to share digital animal welfare-related data. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2025-27382

Abstract: The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is an obligate parasitic fly whose larvae invade and consume living tissue, causing myiasis with severe consequences for human health, animal welfare, and agricultural productivity. Although eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through the sterile insect technique (SIT) and contained thereafter by a Panama-based biological barrier, the parasite remains endemic in parts of South America and the Caribbean. Endemicity in these regions sustains the risk of reintroduction into screwworm-free areas. A recent travel-associated case of human screwworm in the United States highlights this ongoing threat, though no evidence of local transmission has been detected. While the public health risk in the United States remains low, the agricultural stakes are substantial: screwworm outbreaks can cause significant morbidity and mortality in livestock, necessitating costly interventions and resulting in considerable economic losses if detection and control are delayed. This review synthesizes the biology and pathogenesis of C. hominivorax, the historical trajectory of eradication efforts, details of the most recent U.S. case, the ongoing risks to public health and agriculture, and current and emerging prevention strategies. We emphasize that future resilience will depend on embedding surveillance and control in a One Health framework, maintaining redundant SIT capacity, integrating climate-informed risk models, and fostering international collaboration. The recent U.S. case should be interpreted as a sentinel event that reaffirms the fragility of eradication gains and the need for sustained vigilance.

Hailu, K., Kasagga, A., & Haddad, R. (2025). The New World screwworm in the United States: A narrative review anchored to the 2025 travel-associated human case. Cureus https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12591281/ 

Abstract: Sensor-based cattle monitoring is a growing field within precision livestock farming, where machine learning algorithms are used to detect health issues, monitor behavior, and improve productivity. However, the diversity of evaluation strategies, performance metrics, and algorithmic choices in the current literature complicates comparison and selection of machine learning models. In this study, we conduct a systematic review and quantitative analysis of machine learning approaches applied to sensor-driven cattle monitoring tasks. We evaluate and compare algorithms using a broad spectrum of performance indicators, including accuracy, F1-score, precision, and recall, alongside their variability across studies. Through detailed heatmap visualizations and statistical summaries (mean, median, standard deviation, coefficient of variation), we identify the most consistently high-performing models and the factors contributing to variability. Results show that Convolutional Neural Networks and Extreme Gradient Boosting achieve the highest F1-scores and most balanced precision-recall performance, especially in imbalanced health detection tasks, while tree ensemble models such as Random Forest and Gradient Boosting demonstrate superior accuracy and consistency for behavior classification on balanced datasets. Our findings emphasize the importance of multi-metric evaluation frameworks and context-aware algorithm selection in the development of scalable and reliable livestock monitoring systems.

Marin, I., Ciungan, D.-A., Elena Vasiliu, R., & Enea, D.-N. (2025). Livestock monitoring based on microclimate and behavior tracking sensors: A systematic review. IEEE Access : Practical 

Innovations, Open Solutions, 13, 185818–185844. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3625600

Abstract: The automation of animal monitoring is important for precision livestock farming as a means to enhance animal welfare, ensure biosecurity, and optimize productivity. This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in deep learning applications for four key tasks associated with automatic animal monitoring: detection, tracking, pose estimation, and behavior classification. Leading models such as YOLO, R-CNN, DeepSORT, ByteTrack, HRNet, DeepLabCut, and CNN-LSTM are examined in detail. Their performance is evaluated in terms of accuracy, computational efficiency, and adaptability across various species and farm environments. Key performance metrics, including mAP, MOTA, PCKh, and the F1-score, are reported, while issues such as limited cross-species generalization, data annotation bottlenecks, and the lack of animal monitoring during transportation are discussed. A novel taxonomic framework is proposed to guide model selection, providing a structured approach that aligns specific deep learning methods with distinct use cases and operational needs. Emphasis is placed on the integration of high-quality datasets and strategic annotation to improve the reliability and real-world applicability of these models. Collectively, this review aims to bridge scientific knowledge and real-world applications, offering researchers and practitioners actionable insights for the establishment of robust, scalable, and welfare-oriented monitoring systems.

Rajagukguk, R. A., Lee, S., Park, J., Daniel, K. F., Lee, C., Chen, Z., Liu, D., Norton, T., Park, J., & 

Hong, S. (2025). Deep learning for visual animal monitoring (detection, tracking, pose estimation, and behavior classification): A comprehensive review. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12, 101539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101539

Abstract: A tiered certification and labelling scheme is a system where products are assigned different labels, depending on each product’s performance on a particular attribute. A product’s label can indicate one of multiple levels—for animal welfare, a tiered system assigns each product to one of multiple different categories of welfare conditions during farming. Tiered schemes can be contrasted with binary schemes, in which there is only one label and each product is simply labelled or not labelled. Tiered labelling schemes can also be called graded, multi-tier or multi-level labelling schemes.

In this report, we evaluate whether a tiered certification scheme can help increase the market share of slower-growing chickens in high-income (developed) countries. We address this question by reviewing the academic literature on tiered certification schemes and examining cases where tiered certification schemes have been used for marketing slower-growing chicken in other countries. This report is motivated by the observation that slower-growing chicken breeds is the most significant component of the BCC in terms of both animal welfare and industry investment, but that the lack of breed availability is the biggest current challenge to rearing chickens to meet the BCC in some countries.

Ryba, R. (2025). Tiered certification schemes for slower-growing chicken. Animal Ask. https://www.animalask.org/post/tiered-certification-schemes-for-slower-growing-chicken

Abstract: Gene editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, have revolutionized livestock genetics. They enable precise, efficient, and inheritable genome modifications. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of gene editing in livestock. We focus on six key areas: enhancement of disease resistance, improvement of growth performance and meat production traits, modification of milk composition, regulation of reproductive traits, adaptation to environmental stress, and promotion of animal welfare. For example, they have played an important role in improving mastitis resistance in cows, enhancing meat production performance in pigs, increasing milk yield in goats, and producing polled cows. Despite rapid progress, practical implementation in animal breeding still faces challenges. These include off-target effects, low embryo editing efficiency, delivery limitations, and ethical as well as regulatory constraints. Future directions emphasize the development of advanced editing tools, multiplex trait integration, and harmonized public policy. With continued innovation and responsible oversight, gene editing holds great promise for sustainable animal agriculture and global food security.

Wang, J., Zhang, L., Pan, C., Lan, X., Xing, B., & Li, M. (2025). Application of gene editing technology in livestock: progress, challenges, and future perspectives. Agriculture, 15(20), 2155. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15202155 

Introduction: Although there are still no regulations in Brazil addressing key aspects related to fish welfare — such as their slaughter — there is a growing global demand for more responsible aquatic animal management practices, especially concerning humane slaughter. The European Union, for instance, has guidelines that, while vague in some respects, recognize the need to prevent pain and suffering at this stage of the production process (see Fish Watch 2024). This is an important point for Brazil, given Europe’s role as a strategic export market. […] This second edition continues the work initiated by the first Fish Watch report. Despite some progress, particularly regarding certification, there is still a significant gap in terms of clarity, enforceability, and scope of regulations applicable to fish welfare. The importance of advancing in this area is evident, especially given the movement of companies in the sector toward making well-grounded public commitments.

Alianima. (2025). Fish Watch, 2nd Edition. Alianima. https://alianima.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20251006_ALI_012_Fish_Watch_V02.pdf

Abstract: Fish production is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The welfare of captive animals in increasingly intensive systems has historically raised ethical concerns, suggesting that such intensification in fish production will drive public debate and inform policy discussions. Traditional assessments in fish welfare have relied on physical, physiological and/or behavioural measures of biological dysfunction, offering insights into health and functional integrities, yet these approaches face notable limitations. By contrast, affective-based approaches, which use behavioural measures to assess affective state and are widely employed in welfare science, remain underexplored in fishes. Recent advances, such as judgement bias paradigms, provide reliable tools to measure affective states. These support integrative welfare assessments that combine affective evaluations with measures of health and biological functioning. A multi-level approach ensures a comprehensive and robust evaluation of fish welfare, avoiding reliance on any single type of evidence and enabling the exploration of different facets of the welfare construct. While this work synthesizes existing indicators, its main contribution lies in proposing a functional framework that prioritizes affective state evaluation while systematically integrating and validating complementary metrics. By aligning with contemporary ethical and scientific standards, this approach aims to advance the conceptualization and operationalization of fish welfare.

Alvarado, M. V., Cerdá-Reverter, J. M., & Espigares, F. (2025). A functional framework for a comprehensive study of welfare in fishes. Proceedings. Biological Sciences / the Royal Society, 292(2056), 20251833. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.1833

Abstract: This study addresses the growing need for intelligent monitoring in aquaponic systems by developing a predictive system based on artificial intelligence and environmental sensing. The goal is to improve fish welfare through the early detection of adverse water conditions. The system integrates low-cost digital sensors to continuously measure key physicochemical variables—pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature—using these as inputs for real-time classification of fish health status. Four supervised machine learning models were evaluated: linear discriminant analysis (LDA), support vector machines (SVMs), neural networks (NNs), and random forest (RF). A dataset of 1823 instances was collected over eight months from a red tilapia aquaponic setup. The random forest model yielded the highest classification accuracy (99%), followed by NN (98%) and SVM (97%). LDA achieved 82% accuracy. Performance was validated using 5-fold cross-validation and label permutation tests to confirm model robustness. These results demonstrate that sensor-based predictive models can reliably detect early signs of fish stress or mortality, supporting the implementation of intelligent environmental monitoring and automation strategies in sustainable aquaponic production.

Fandiño Pelayo, J. S., Mendoza Castellanos, L. S., Cazes Ortega, R., & Hernández-Rojas, L. G. (2025). AI-driven monitoring for fish welfare in aquaponics: A predictive approach. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/s25196107

Abstract: Humane slaughter in aquaculture depends on accurate assessments of insensibility, yet commonly used operational indicators remain poorly validated against neurological benchmarks. This study compared operational indicators such as the loss or recovery of equilibrium, ‘eye-roll’ reflex, and ventilation reflex with visually evoked responses (VERs) in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) subjected to anaesthetic immersion or in-water electrical stunning. Operational indicators consistently preceded or lagged behind VERs, risking misjudgment of fish sensibility. Notable species differences emerged, with seabass losing and recovering indicators faster than seabream, whose indicator sequences varied depending on stunning method. Among all indicators, the ventilation reflex aligned most closely with VERs in both species, suggesting it may be the most reliable operational proxy. Despite the increasing use of electrical stunning in commercial settings, rapid recovery times (within seconds to minutes) observed in most fish raise serious welfare concerns. These findings underscore the urgent need to improve and validate electrical stunning methods for seabass and seabream before they can be considered humane and are widely implemented. Until neurological tools are feasible for commercial use, thorough species- and method-specific validation of operational indicators remains essential for safeguarding fish welfare.

Gräns, A., Cabrera-Álvarez, M. J., Oliveira, G. D. C., Saraiva, J. L., Arechavala-Lopez, P., Bortoletti, M., Schwerte, T., & Brijs, J. (2025). Stunning challenges: Operational indicators flag failures, but neurological validation is needed to confirm stunning effectiveness in seabass and seabream. Aquaculture Reports, 45, 103189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aqrep.2025.103189

Abstract: Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer a transformative approach to sustainable fish and shrimp farming by minimizing water use, enabling high-density production, and providing precise environmental control. Between 2020 and 2025, innovations such as low-head oxygenation, modular biofilters, integrated microalgae units, AI-driven feeding, and cold atmospheric plasma disinfection improved efficiency, biosecurity, and sustainability. This review synthesizes advances in engineering design, water quality management, automation, species-specific welfare optimization, and economic performance. Integrating microalgae and microbial consortia enhances nutrient recycling, CO₂ sequestration, oxygen production, and biofilter resilience, advancing zero-waste objectives. Concurrently, optimized flow regimes, lighting, and feeding protocols improve growth performance and welfare across species. Despite progress, challenges in energy intensity, microbial stability, system complexity, and cost scalability remain. Future directions include renewable energy integration, standardized protocols, interdisciplinary training, and supportive policies to accelerate adoption of circular, precision aquaculture. This review provides a critical resource in designing resilient, next-generation RAS.

Hashmi, Z., Metali, F., Amin, M., Abu Bakar, M. S., Wibisono, Y., Nugroho, W. A., & Bilad, M. R. (2025). Recirculating aquaculture systems: Advances, impacts, and integrated pathways for sustainable growth. Bioresource Technology Reports, 32, 102340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102340

Abstract: The recent growth and development in salmon farming in Norway have led to a need for more robust and larger smolt/post-smolts. New and larger smolt production plants have been constructed to serve this need. However, these plants are still mainly run through manual labor, meaning that operations and management efficiency strongly depend on the experience of the farmers. This may effectually restrict the desired production growth. To enable the future sustainable growth of the industry, it is necessary to move from the experience-based production regime to knowledge-based and more objective methods. One way of achieving this is to implement solutions based on Industry 4.0 concepts. This chapter outlines how Industry 4.0 can be adapted to smolt production through the Smolt 4.0 concept by targeting and analyzing the state-of-the-art within production methods in the smolt industry and evaluating how operations can be improved using Industry 4.0 principles. Three case studies demonstrating how this can be achieved are presented. The chapter concludes by discussing how more automation and autonomy in smolt facilities can counter challenges related to fish welfare, personnel risks, productivity, and profit.

Haugaløkken, B., Eilertsen, E., Føre, M., Svendsen, E., Mulelid, M. A., Sunde, L. M., & Kelasidi, E. (2026). Precision fish farming – from industry 4.0 to smolt 4.0. In Seafood 4.0 (pp. 395–430). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33750-5.00015-9

Abstract: Aquatic animal welfare (AAW) is increasingly recognized as a critical component of sustainable aquaculture in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This study aimed to identify the main welfare challenges perceived by LAC stakeholders, including scientists, staff of the Competent National Authorities (CNA) and industry professionals, through a three-day online workshop involving 150 participants and 21 countries. Using topic modelling to analyse responses across four welfare domains (nutrition, environment, health and behaviour), the study revealed that the stakeholders’ most frequently cited concerns related to animal-based welfare indicators, feeding strategies, and sanitary conditions, particularly during early life stages. Key issues included feed quality, stress, mortality, and cannibalism, while reproductive and grow-out stages emphasized spawning, feeding and sanitation. Environmental challenges, such as water quality, stocking density and exposure to predators were highlighted, along with the need for improved veterinary care, disease control and accurate diagnosis. Behavioural welfare responses indicated limited knowledge, the need for better assessment tools and facilities that promote natural behaviours. Slaughter methods emerged as a significant area of concern, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of capacity building, minimizing stress and suffering, and standardized protocols. Species-specific knowledge was also identified, particularly in nutrition, behaviour, and disease diagnosis. Research priorities included nutrition, stress, water management and environmental impact, while operational improvements focused on standardized management, personnel training, and comprehensive guidance documents. Overall, LAC stakeholders demonstrated a growing awareness of AAW issues and a had strong demand for both theoretical and practical solutions to improve welfare standards in LAC aquaculture.

Medina, P., Rosas, C., López Greco, L. S., Baltazar-Guerrero, P., Roque, A., Llonch, P., Saraiva, J. L., Arechavala-Lopez, P., Bertini, G., Blazquez, M., Martínez-Yáñez, R., Méndez-Martínez, Y., Pascual, C., Pérez, M., Villanova, G. V., Valença, A. R., Villanueva, R., Valdebenito Isler, I., Prat, F., & Rotllant, G. (2025). Perception of challenges and needs regarding animal welfare in Latin American aquaculture. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5601668

Abstract: In recent years, several studies that analyze and interpret fish behavioral patterns in aquaculture settings have been published. Understanding how the fish react and respond to various scenarios and treatments can help provide insight and knowledge on how to achieve sustainable and efficient aquaculture production. Many of these research efforts have been conducted in land based tanks as this allows for closer and more continuous monitoring of the fish than what is possible at commercial facilities, essentially improving data quality and hence the possible insights to gain from these. However, most experimental tanks are closed-loop environments that are not particularly similar to commercial production units, as a consequence the results obtained in these systems are not directly transferable to industrial setups. Moreover, tank monitoring in such trials is often done using a single or a limited selection of different observation modes, which may not be sufficient to capture the full dynamics of fish responses. The present study seeks to address these challenges by developing the Cyber-Enhanced tank environment for aquaculture research. This concept features a tank environment setup to simulate the prevailing conditions in aquaculture units, mimicking natural light conditions, hiding sensors and other systems to reduce impacts on the fish and potential collisions, and using a tank color known to stimulate positive welfare in farmed fish. The tank was equipped with a novel sensor suite for high-fidelity detection and monitoring of fish behaviors based on a combination of an event camera, a scanning imaging sonar and conventional cameras. This innovative concept represents a step towards conducting experimental setups that are both more realistic in that conditions resemble those in commercial facilities and that uses a multi-modal sensor approach to capture details in fish responses in behaviors. The setup will be used as a basis for future fish responses experiments monitoring experiments in intensive aquaculture tanks.

Voskakis, D., Føre, M., Svendsen, E., Liland, A. P., Rey Planellas, S., Eguiraun, H., & Klebert, P. (2025). The cyber-enhanced tank: A novel concept for increased realism and multi-modal monitoring in tank based finfish aquaculture research. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 12, 1629884. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2025.1629884

Abstract: The prevailing dietary patterns across Western countries, characterized by reliance on animal-source products, represent significant contributors to health issues and environmental degradation. Growing evidence has highlighted the potential of transitioning from meat-heavy to more plant-rich diets to promote human health while respecting planetary boundaries. Psychological research contributes by studying people’s attitudes and intentions to identify barriers and promoters of healthier food choices. This research falls within this framework, specifically focusing on plant-based protein food (PBPF). The primary aim was introducing AttiFood, a tool for investigating attitudes toward PBPF. The second was to apply AttiFood to examine the role of attitudes in increasing the intention to consume PBPF. The research consisted of three phases: creation and validation of a photographic set of stimuli featuring a wide range of protein sources, including animal- (i.e., red and white meat, fish, dairy, and eggs) and plant-based (i.e., legumes, grain, nuts and seeds) protein food; design and testing of a customized implicit association test; application study on an Italian sample assessing how the current behavior, automatic and explicit attitudes, and intentions intertwine. Results showed positive attitudes toward familiar and palatable plant-based protein food, although they were considered less tasty, convivial, and satisfying than animal-based counterparts. Multiple linear regression revealed current consumption and automatic and explicit attitudes as predictors of intention to increase PBPF consumption. This research suggests that promoting familiar and palatable alternatives to animal-based protein, as presented in the AttiFood tool, could inspire positive dietary changes.

Adorni, R., Vanutelli, M. E., Mammano, A., Cambieri, V. C., D’Addario, M., & Steca, P. (2026). Not only veggies: Promoting healthy and familiar plant-based alternatives to traditional meat dishes with the AttiFood tool. Food Quality and Preference, 136, 105734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105734

Abstract:

• Objectives
  • The study’s main goal was to investigate the effect of imagery on explicit and implicit attitudes toward vegetarian food consumption, as relevant psychological precursors of sustainable behavior in context of dual-process models.
• Methods
  • 163 participants completed an explicit rating task and an implicit association test (IAT), respectively, at pre and post-intervention, namely a five-minute imagery task about vegetarian nutrition.
• Results
  • The results showed, apart from explorative analyses, no significant time*group interaction effects on implicit attitudes, contrary to our initial expectation. There were no group differences in explicit attitudes toward vegetarian nutrition. Still, explicit attitudes toward meat-based nutrition got significantly worse in the intervention group than in the control group, which aligns with our initial expectations. Furthermore, eating habits moderated the effect between group and implicit attitudes significantly.
• Conclusion
  • This study does not provide the full extent of the expected effect of imagery on altering explicit and implicit attitudes toward sustainable behavior, particularly vegetarian nutrition. Nevertheless, it shows promising imagery approaches as a short-term intervention promoting food-related attitudes as precursors of sustainable behavior in terms of stabilizing high implicit attitudes toward vegetarian nutrition and weakening explicit attitudes toward meat-based nutrition.

Daiss, F., & Jansen, P. (2025). Affective and reflective attitudes toward vegetarian food consumption: The effect of imagery. Acta Psychologica, 260, 105644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105644

Abstract: Right-wing adherents — those higher in social dominance orientation (SDO) or right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) — tend to show stronger commitment to consuming meat, partly due to beliefs in human superiority over animals and resistance to the perceived threat that veg(etari)anism poses to traditional food norms. In two large-scale surveys (Ns = 870 and 1142), we investigated whether these ideological dispositions also predict commitment to dairy, eggs, and fish, not just meat, and more favourable evaluations of animal-based (vs. plant-based) alternatives. The findings demonstrated that the effects of right-wing ideological dispositions (SDO and RWA) persist across different types of animal products and dietary groups, including omnivores, flexitarians, pescatarians, and vegetarians. Perceived veg(etari)anism threat significantly mediated the associations for both SDO and RWA, while human supremacy beliefs also mediated the associations for SDO. These results suggest that animal product consumption and resistance to plant-based alternatives are shaped by ideological worldviews rooted in group-based dominance and cultural traditionalism. Efforts to reduce animal product consumption may need to engage with these underlying ideological narratives.

Ioannidou, M., Harlow, G., Patel, M., Leach, S., Hodson, G., & Dhont, K. (2026). Why the right resists veg(etari)anism: Ideological commitment to consuming animal products. Food Quality and Preference, 136, 105769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105769 

Abstract: Plant-based milk (PBM) sales have increased over recent years, which is linked with a growing trend to move away from meat-based products and the need to reduce carbon emissions. However, few studies have explored how and why consumers drink PBM. Our aims were threefold: 1) to report how fluid milk is consumed in the diet 2) to explore demographic differences between PBM and cow milk (CM) consumers and 3) to identify factors that may influence the type of milk drink consumed. A between-participants quasi-experimental design was used, with data gathered through an online questionnaire. Participants were UK-based and over 18 years old (N = 265), who solely consume either PBM (n = 116) or CM (n = 149). CM drinkers were more likely than PBM drinkers to consume milk as a standalone beverage and CM drinkers consume milk more frequently. There were few demographic differences between groups, but PBM drinkers were more likely to have a more left-wing political view than CM drinkers. A binomial regression model showed that the likelihood of being a PBM drinker was positively associated with the endorsement of environmental concerns and ethics, intolerance and allergies, and dietary preference.  By contrast, social influences and health concerns were associated with reduced likelihood of drinking PBM. Our findings could help public health messaging to incentivise behavioural change around PBM consumption, addressing recommendations from the UK government that the population decrease dairy consumption by 20%.

Melrose, H., Edmonds, C., Gardner, M., & Booth, P. (2025). How, who and why consumers drink plant-based milk versus cow’s milk: A cross-sectional survey. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5625493

Abstract: Food labels shape expectations and can steer acceptance. In yogurt-like products, dairy-anchored terms may trigger mismatched expectations among non-vegans. We tested how naming affects sensory acceptance of plant-based yogurt. One hundred adults (18–60 years) were randomly assigned to two cohorts: 50 evaluated strawberry/coconut samples labeled as “yogurt,” and 50 evaluated the same products labeled as “non-dairy creamy beverage” (between-subjects). Participants provided free-listing descriptors and rated overall liking on a nine-point hedonic scale. The “non-dairy creamy beverage” label elicited more positive descriptors (e.g., attractive appearance, consistent texture) and higher overall acceptance than the “yogurt” label. Liking reached 69.2% (strawberry) and 48.8% (coconut) when named non-dairy creamy beverage, versus 41.2% and 21.5% as yogurt. Naming therefore substantially shapes perception and acceptance of plant-based yogurt analogs among non-vegans, suggesting that avoiding the term “yogurt” may reduce negative carryover from dairy expectations and improve market appeal.

Passos, L. P., Galdino, M. L. S., Silas Souza, A. H., Amorim, K. A., Santos, L. M. B., Cardoso, V. dos S., & Pinheiro, A. C. M. (2025). Impact of product labeling on vegan yogurt acceptance. Journal of Sensory Studies, 40(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/joss.70081 

Abstract: The EAT-Lancet Commission’s “Planetary Health Diet” (PHD) aims to optimise population health and environmental sustainability by promoting a plant-forward diet with animal products consumed in moderation(1). The UK’s Eatwell Guide provides recommendations for key nutrients and food groups to achieve a healthy, balanced diet; greater adherence is associated with environmental benefits(2). This secondary analysis examines the relationships between PHD adherence, food group intakes and compliance with the Eatwell Guide in UK adults.

Data from disease-free UK adults aged ≥18 years (n=452) were pooled from five cross- sectional analyses that recorded habitual dietary intake using the eNutri food frequency questionnaire, which generated nutrient and food group data(3). EAT-Lancet Index scores were calculated(4) for each participant then stratified into quartiles (Q), with the highest scores in Q4 (representing greater adherence to the PHD). Adherence to the 9 Eatwell Guide recommendations were determined for each quartile then classified as ‘very low’ (0– 2 recommendations met), ‘low’ (3–4) or ‘intermediate-to-high’ (5–9) (2). ANCOVA (adjusted for sex, age, physical activity, ethnicity, employment status, and body mass index (BMI)) compared the mean daily intakes of 17 food groups across quartiles. If significant, pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction were determined. P values ≤0.01 were considered significant for all.

Study participants had a mean (SD) age of 44 (19) years and a BMI of 25.7 (6.0) kg/m2 and 79.6% were female. Adherence to the Eatwell Guide was very low in Q1 and Q2, low in Q3 and intermediate-to-high in Q4 (where 5 out of the 9 recommendations were met).

Compared to Q1, higher adherence to the PHD (Q4) was associated with higher intakes of ‘fruits and vegetables’ (+408 g/d), ‘pulses’ (+25.0 g/d), ‘whole grains’(+29.2 g/d), ‘nuts and seeds’(+15.8 g/d) ‘plant-based meat alternatives’ (+14.3 g/d) and ‘plant-based dairy alternatives’ (+110 g/d) (all p≤0.001). In contrast, Q4 had lower intakes of ‘eggs’ (-17.0 g/d), ‘potatoes’(-50.5 g/d), ‘poultry’ (-38.1 g/d), ‘red meat’(-40.4 g/d), ‘processed meat’(-22.5 g/d), ‘refined grains’ (-65.0 g/d) and ‘dairy products’ (-110 g/d) relative to Q1 (all p≤0.001). Although intakes of ‘unsaturated fats and oils’ and ‘fish and other seafood’ were highest in Q4, neither was significantly different from the other quartiles.

Greater adherence to the PHD was associated with higher intakes of plant-based foods (including a two-fold higher intake in fruits and vegetables), and lower consumption of animal products, notably a five-fold lower intake of red meat. Moreover, UK adults whose diets more closely reflected the PHD also met a higher proportion of Eatwell Guide recommendations. These findings suggest that closer adherence to the PHD aligns with greater compliance to UK dietary guidelines (Eatwell Guide), reflecting a more favorable dietary pattern.

Albabtain, D., Fallaize, R., Hwang, F., Lovegrove, J. A., & Weech, M. (2025). Associations between the EAT-Lancet Index, food group consumption and Eatwell Guide adherence in UK adults. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 84(OCE4). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665125101614

Abstract:

• Background
  • The publication of the EAT-Lancet Commission in 2019 has motivated the development of numerous dietary indexes to evaluate how different populations adhere to its proposed dietary guidelines aimed at promoting both human and planetary health. However, the lack of methodological harmonization among these indexes limits their comparability and applicability in population-level assessments. This narrative review aims to synthesize the existing EAT-Lancet-based indexes, identify limitations, and propose criteria to develop a new index.
• Methods
  • We conducted a non-systematic narrative search to identify dietary indexes based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations and published up to April 24, 2025. The information was synthesized in a comparative table, including scoring structure, the food groups considered, and the identified limitations.
• Results
  • We identified thirteen original indexes and three systematic reviews evaluating eleven of these indexes. Analysis of the indexes show important common limitations: the use of the same score for each category, not considering the EAT-Lancet recommended ranges, grouping of food items with very different environmental impacts (such as beef and pork), penalizing vegetarian diets, and not penalizing unhealthy foods such as alcohol, cocoa, and coffee. A new index is proposed which weights every food group according to four environmental dimensions, gives maximum scores within the recommended ranges, separates cheese from the rest of the dairy, allows for interchangeability between protein and fat sources and it penalizes unhealthy foods and total caloric deviations.
• Conclusions
  • This review confirms the methodological heterogeneity across thirteen dietary indexes based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations. We propose the creation of a new standardized index to address the limitations of previous indexes and foster greater consistency in future studies, and better applicability of planetary principles across diverse populations.

Estelrich Ballester, A., Romaguera, D., & Curto, A. (2025). Dietary indexes based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations: A narrative review. European Journal of Public Health, 35(Supplement_4). https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaf161.1397

Abstract: High-meat consumption negatively impacts our planet and our health, especially in high-income countries where this eating pattern is the norm. Shifting peoples’ eating patterns to align with a plant-rich diet is now considered crucial to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from agricultural production and improve human health and animal welfare. This thesis presents research that aims to: (1) explore which plant-rich diet to promote to Australian adults; (2) understand the barriers and drivers to the target plant-rich diet; and (3) develop and test an intervention to increase uptake of the target plant-rich diet, based on the barriers and drivers identified in the previous study. In the first study, we assessed a range of plant-rich diets (Mediterranean, flexitarian/semi-vegetarian, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan) using the community-based social marketing framework (CBSM) (McKenzie-Mohr, 2011). Each diet was assessed using three metrics, the first relating to the environmental, human health, and animal welfare impact of each plant-rich diet, with the second and third metrics being self-reported data (N = 253 Australian adults) on current adoption and willingness to adopt each of these diets, respectively. Following the CBSM calculation for impact, the Mediterranean diet was identified as the target plant-rich diet, as it had the greatest projected positive impact score. Using a combination of different research methodologies, the next two studies assessed the barriers and drivers to Mediterranean diet adoption using the capability-opportunity-motivation model of behaviour (COM-B) of the behaviour change wheel (BCW) (Michie et al., 2011). The first study was a qualitative study whereby 16 Australian adults who ate an omnivore or plant-rich diet were interviewed. Inductive and deductive analyses were applied using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019; Braun et al., 2022) and the COM-B, respectively. Key barriers identified were: 1) changing ingrained meat habits; 2) lack of physical and mental availability; 3) household influences; 4) meat perceived as tasty and Mediterranean diet foods as bland; and 5) minimal knowledge of the nutritional benefits of Mediterranean diet foods. The next study was a quantitative study. Informed by the qualitative study results, an online sample of 443 Australian adults was surveyed to assess predictors of Mediterranean diet adoption. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four main factors (Lack of Time and Knowledge, Food Allergies and Clean Eating, Meat Dependence, and Household Dietary Preferences), that together with Mediterranean Diet Familiarity and Not Having to Cook for Others, predicted 44% of the variability in Mediterranean diet adoption. Assessing existing eating behaviours also highlighted that omnivores, on average, ate red meat more often, and legumes less often, than their meat-reducing counterparts. The final study involved the development and evaluation of 11 legume-focused message attributes to increase legume consumption intentions within a sample of 201 Australian residents. Multilevel modelling revealed that message attributes referencing taste and convenience significantly increased intentions to consume legumes. In contrast, for high meat eaters, message attributes promoting enablement strategies or referring to health and financial benefits significantly decreased (and may be detrimental to) legume consumption intentions. Overall, it can be concluded that shifting people from eating a high-meat diet to eating the Mediterranean diet requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses one’s capability, opportunity, and motivation. Creating greater systemic opportunities for sustainable eating environments also needs to be considered in addition to promoting individual behaviour change.

Allenden, N, et al. (2025). Exploring and understanding the barriers and drivers to adopting the sustainable plant-rich Mediterranean diet. (2025, October 1). https://rune.une.edu.au/entities/publication/9dc410a9-dfe7-4ad8-bc4d-5db4958bc993

Abstract: Healthcare systems have both an ethical responsibility and a mandate to decarbonize. Integrating plant-rich diets, such as the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet, in healthcare settings could advance climate change mitigation, provide an opportunity to improve the food served to patients, and support a societal transition to healthier and more sustainable diets by changing social norms. Yet, their adoption in the healthcare sector have been limited. This PhD thesis therefore aims to explore how more plant-rich diets could be adapted in an acute inpatient setting, focusing on the experience at Vancouver General Hospital. After providing context for this work, in Chapters 2 and 3, I endeavour to better characterise the current state of patient satisfaction, nutrition, food waste and environmental impacts with the existing menu by conducting a hospital-wide survey and a prospective cohort study of surgical inpatients. I find substandard levels of patient satisfaction, insufficient nutrition, rates of food waste as high as 59%, and a prevalence of animal-based proteins in meal offerings which account for the largest proportion of the menu’s greenhouse gas emissions and land use. Then, I describe the development and implementation of a more sustainable menu developed by an interdisciplinary team, which comprises members from food services, clinical dietetics, sustainability teams, patient partners, and an Executive Chef. The novel menu features 18 new appealing dishes with plant-based or low-impact animal-based proteins, is more culturally diverse, nutritionally sound, better aligned with the Planetary Health Diet, and associated with considerable environmental benefits. This novel menu is then implemented across Vancouver General Hospital to assess patient acceptability with in-person patient surveys and waste audits. I find that the menu, served to the majority of patients, results in an increase of plant-based meals served from 8% to 25% of all dishes served at lunch and dinner. Patient acceptability scores are on average 84%, and food waste rates are lower across most protein types with the novel menu. In conclusion, I find in this thesis that more plant-rich diets can be adapted to a healthcare setting in a way that meets patient preferences and nutritional requirements, while resulting in considerable environmental benefits.

Lalande, A. (2025). Improving planetary health through healthcare foodservices transformation. University of British Columbia. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0450530

Abstract: Interest in more sustainable diets for the global population of 528 million companion dogs is steadily increasing, encompassing nutritionally sound cultivated meat, vegan, and microbial protein-based dog foods. Factors driving these alternative dog foods include lower impacts on the environment, fewer welfare problems related to intensively farmed animals and wild-caught fish, and potentially superior canine health outcomes, relative to conventional meat-based dog food. Through a questionnaire with 2639 responses, this study aimed to gain insights into dog guardians’ current feeding patterns and dog food purchasing determinants, acceptance of more sustainable dog diets, and sources of information used for decisions about dog diets. Key results included that 84% (2188/2596) of respondents currently fed either conventional or raw meat-based dog food. More than 43% (936/2169) of this group of respondents who answered found at least one of the more sustainable alternative dog foods acceptable, with purchases of these alternatives hinging most commonly upon the nutritional soundness of the products. Cultivated meat-based dog food was the most popular alternative (selected by 24%, 529/2169), followed by vegetarian (17%, 359/2169), insect-based (16%, 336/2169), and vegan (13%, 290/2169) dog food. The top three information sources used to make decisions regarding dog diets were labels/packaging (selected by 42% of all respondents, 1080/2596), scientific articles/books (38%, 989/2596), and business webpages (35%, 900/2596). Numerous human and dog demographic variables had impacts on current diets, acceptance of alternative diets, and information sources used. Notably, human diet and dog diet were the factors most commonly associated with current and potential purchasing decisions, as well as with information sources used. For instance, greater reductions by guardians in the consumption of animals were associated with greater acceptance of more sustainable dog diets. It should be noted that, due to the reliance on convenience sampling and the overrepresentation of respondents from the UK, of female guardians, of respondents with higher education, and of vegan guardians, the reported relative frequencies of subgroups were not fully representative of the global dog guardian population. Association estimates were based on regression analyses to minimize any resultant bias effects.

Mace, J. L., Bauer, A., Knight, A., & Nicholles, B. (2025). Consumer acceptance of sustainable dog diets: A survey of 2639 dog guardians. Animals : An Open Access Journal from MDPI, 15(20). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15202988

Abstract: This study investigated Chinese consumers’ attitudes toward the sustainable value of cultured meat using a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative interviews identified key factors including environmental benefits, animal protection, nutrition, economic sustainability, and disease prevention. A quantitative process demonstrated that these factors significantly influenced attitudes, moral obligations, and behavioral intentions toward cultured meat. A structural analysis confirmed the five-factor structure, showing that pro-environmental, economic, and disease-related values positively impacted attitudes toward cultured meat. Age, novelty, and environmental awareness strengthened these relationships. This study provides valuable insights for promoting cultured meat and emphasizes the importance of sustainable value perceptions in consumer acceptance.

Quan, L., Baah, N. G., Zhang, C. J., Meng, B., & Han, H. (2025). Sustainable values of cultured meat: Food innovation and customer behaviors in the restaurant sector. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 42(9), 1182–1203. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2025.2573425

Abstract: Sustainable protein consumption is a key element in the transition toward more environmentally responsible food systems. Poultry, due to its relatively low carbon footprint and favorable health profile, holds significant potential to become an important component of the so-called “protein transition.” The aim of this article is to identify cognitive factors influencing consumer purchasing decisions regarding poultry and to formulate recommendations for marketing communication strategies that position poultry as a choice aligned with sustainability goals. This study is based on an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted on a nationally representative sample of Polish consumers (AgriFood 2024). The results revealed three dominant decision-making determinants—taste, health, and convenience—collectively forming the original THC (Taste–Health–Convenience) model. This model provides a novel interpretive framework, showing how sustainability issues can be communicated through immediate, personally relevant consumer benefits, and subsequently expanded to include environmental and ethical aspects. The findings indicate that effective communication should emphasize tangible, everyday consumer benefits while also leveraging poultry’s lower climate impact compared to red meat. This article makes an original contribution to the debate on sustainable diets by presenting the THC model both as a tool for explaining the mechanisms of the attitude–behavior gap and as a practical instrument for designing campaigns that support the implementation of SDG 3 and SDG 12.

Szeląg-Sikora, A., Oleksy-Gębczyk, A., Rydwańska, P., Kowalska-Jarnot, K., Kochanek, A., & Generowicz, A. (2025). Sustainable food consumption and the attitude–behavior gap: Factor analysis and recommendations for marketing communication. Sustainability, 17(21), 9476. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219476

Abstract:

• Background
  • One Welfare expands the One Health approach by integrating animal welfare, human wellbeing, and environmental sustainability into a single framework. Despite growing global recognition of One Welfare as a governance tool to address zoonotic risks, societal vulnerabilities, and ethical challenges, its practical implementation remains limited in most regions. Uruguay provides a relevant case to explore how systemic gaps in animal welfare regulation can undermine public health resilience and zoonotic disease control.
• Methods
  • We analyzed Uruguay’s position in international animal welfare indexes, reviewed national animal welfare legislation and educational strategies, and conducted a systematic assessment of One Welfare-related conditions. Additionally, we identified structural risks and governance deficits linked to inadequate animal welfare practices, including zoonotic risks, through a targeted literature review and policy analysis.
• Results
  • Despite global advances in multi-species health governance, Uruguay shows legislative fragility and fragmented institutional frameworks. Key failures include outdated laws, inadequate animal-ethical perception, uncontrolled companion animal populations, deficient sterilization practices despite legal mandates, overwhelmed shelters, rising animal–vehicle collisions, culturally entrenched but underregulated hunting, illegal wildlife trade, limited veterinary oversight, and painful routine farm practices with minimal anesthesia. Gaps in surveillance and biosecurity amplify underreported zoonotic threats, reflecting a structural disconnect between One Welfare principles and policy implementation.
• Conclusion
  • To move from aspirational discourse to actionable strategies, One Welfare must be embedded as a governance instrument that enables multi-species stewardship and integrated health systems. Uruguay exemplifies the pressing need for comprehensive, intersectoral solutions to mitigate zoonotic risks, enhance public health, and align national policies with global sustainability agendas.

Vidal, B., Verger, L., & Nagy, G. J. (2025). Exploring the One Health-One Welfare nexus and zoonoses. Science in One Health, 4, 100128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soh.2025.100128

Abstract: With the rapid growth of the global population and the increasing demand for protein, the continued expansion of the meat industry is placing severe pressure on water and land resources and posing significant challenges to the environment. Meat substitutes, as an emerging source of protein, are viewed as an effective and promising solution to address the surge in global meat consumption. This review provides a new perspective by systematically integrating technological innovation, sustainable development, and socio-cultural transformation into the evaluation framework of meat substitutes. Unlike previous studies focusing solely on nutritional or environmental aspects, we reveal how the synergistic evolution of multi-source raw material utilization and advanced texturization technologies facilitate the paradigm shift in sustainable protein systems. Furthermore, we critically examine the socio-cultural dimensions – including institutional governance, economic power asymmetries, and cultural narratives – that shape the acceptance and integration of meat substitutes into mainstream diets. By synthesizing insights that span food science, sustainability, and social dynamics, this review positions meat substitutes as a driving force for transformative change in global protein systems. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, promoting understanding of the challenges in the development and adoption of meat substitutes.

Wang, C., Yang, Z., Lin, M., Miao, S., & Guo, Z. (2025). Reshaping meat consumption: Meat substitutes in a sustainability perspective. Food Reviews International, 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/87559129.2025.2577168

Abstract: Despite increasing awareness and advocacy for plant-based diets, societal progress toward meat reduction remains below expectations. To understand such sustained carnist resistance, we tested whether perceiving vegans as a cultural threat (threat to the traditional meat-eating culture) and moral threat (threat to the ingroup’s moral image) would directly and indirectly (through decreased positive and increased negative stereotyping of vegans) challenge meat-eaters’ willingness to go vegan. Across three studies conducted in Türkiye and the UK (one correlational and two pre-registered experiments manipulating threat; Total N = 1325), we found cultural threat to predict lower intentions to restrict meat consumption directly (Studies 1 and 3) and through decreased positive stereotyping in all studies. Direct effects of moral threat were inconsistent, but such threat also reduced intentions to reduce through increased negative stereotyping in all studies. We discussed theoretical and practical implications of the study for creating more sustainable reductions in meat consumption.

Bagci, S. C., Guvensoy, I., Kaplan, B., & Sagnak, G. (2025). From threat to resistance: Does perceiving vegans as a cultural and moral threat lower meat-eaters’ meat reduction intentions? https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5677742

Abstract: Adopting vegan food choices is increasingly recognized as beneficial for environmental sustainability, as reducing meat intake can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources. However, men often show resistance to vegan foods, a behavior potentially linked to masculinity concerns. In this research, we conducted four studies to explore the psychological barriers men face in adopting vegan foods. In Study 1 (n = 291), students (men and women) estimated that women were significantly more likely than men to follow a vegan diet, reflecting a gender-related stereotype associated with veganism. In Study 2 (n = 140), we found that simply describing an individual as vegan leads participants (men and women) to think that this person is more likely to be a woman than a man, suggesting that vegan choices influence how men are socially perceived. Studies 3a and 3b (total n = 262, only men) further investigated masculinity threat as a mechanism by showing that men feel discomfort when their masculinity is challenged, potentially resulting in a reluctance to choose vegan foods. Finally, in Study 4 (n = 152, only men), we tested a branding intervention in which we manipulated the font on vegan food packaging to include masculine-coded elements. Results showed that using a masculine font increased male participants’ purchase intentions for vegan foods. Together, these findings shed light on the role of masculinity threat in men’s dietary decisions and suggest branding strategies to promote vegan foods to male consumers. By addressing psychological barriers, our research offers practical insights for increasing environmentally sustainable food choices, potentially benefiting both individual well-being and the environment.

Balbo, L., Shaikh, S., & Vaziri, S. (2025). Men, masculinity, and veganism: Experimental insights and branding solutions to foster sustainable food choices. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 107, 102794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102794

Abstract: Dairy products are the second greatest contributor to the environmental burden of food in Europe, surpassed only by meat. The objective of this field study was to explore availability and positioning as strategies to promote the substitution of milk for a plant-based alternative on the coffee counter of a weekday self-service restaurant. Data on consumption of milk and oat drink of 6147 meals were collected in four different conditions: only milk (control), only oat drink, both beverages on both sides, both beverages on different sides of the coffee counter. Results show a 38 % decrease in milk consumption per paying customer on days when both beverages were available compared to control, leading to an estimated 32 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). Contrary to hypothesized, the total volume of beverages was 12 % lower on days when both milk and oat drink were served compared to control days, causing a 9 % decrease in total costs. The ratio of milk by oat drink was also 21 % lower when each beverage was served on different sides of the counter compared to when both were served on both sides. Our study suggests that serving a plant-based alternative and creating small barriers to milk are promising strategies to reduce GHGE in day-to-day gastronomic venues.

Baptista, I., Neuman, N., Zorell, C., & Öström, Å. (2025). Should we offer oat drink? Exploring availability and positioning as strategies to reduce milk consumption at a self-service lunch restaurant. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 42, 101333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2025.101333

Abstract: Schools constitute strategic settings for shaping eating behaviors among youth. Given the profound environmental, health, and social challenges associated with current food systems, there is an urgent need to explore dietary patterns that simultaneously support human well-being, ecological sustainability, and ethical principles. This comprehensive review provides a contemporary overview of the role of plant-based diets as an instrumental pathway to a healthier and more sustainable future by examining (i) environmental and social impacts of current food systems; (ii) the effects of plant-based diets on health; (iii) determinants of plant-based diet implementation in schools, including barriers and facilitators to their adoption; and (iv) the development of future-oriented dietary guidelines. Transitioning to plant-based diets, combined with sustainable agricultural practices, can reduce resource use and promote ecological sustainability. Promoting plant-based diets can also encourage the development of a more responsible and equitable social culture. Plant-based diets consistently provide metabolic, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory benefits across diverse populations, contributing to healthy weight and glycemic regulation. Well-planned plant-based diets may also improve cognitive function and promote psychological well-being. The integration of plant-based diets in schools is limited by barriers such as children’s food preferences, habitual eating patterns, peer influence, time and resource constraints, limited knowledge, cultural attachment to meat, and low family involvement. Conversely, facilitators including experiential learning, nutrition education, teacher and family engagement, social norms, ethical or environmental motivations, and institutional support promote acceptance and implementation. Ongoing research is required to refine dietary recommendations, assess long-term health outcomes, and ensure nutritional adequacy across pediatric populations. Continued evaluation of school-based interventions and policy frameworks will be essential to optimize the integration of plant-based diets and to monitor their health, ethical, and environmental impacts.

Borrego-Ruiz, A., & Borrego, J. J. (2025). Integrating plant-based diets into schools for a healthier and more sustainable future: A contemporary overview. Future, 3(4), 22. https://doi.org/10.3390/future3040022

Abstract: This review examines effective labelling techniques for foods and beverages with alternative proteins, emphasizing their impact on dietary choices and consumer behaviour. It explores key aspects such as protein composition, health claims and sustainability indicators, integrating previous research to assess how labelling influences consumers’ choices between plant-based substitutes and animal products. The findings suggest that clear and accurate labelling is essential for consumers to make informed decisions that align with environmental and health goals. However, the review highlights inconsistencies in regional regulatory frameworks, particularly regarding protein labelling norms. Additionally, it underscores the potential of underutilized, high-protein plant sources as effective alternatives in plant-based products. This study provides a closer examination of how food and beverage labels, particularly those for alternative protein products, are used and understood globally. Using the PRISMA framework, this paper systematically reviewed 42 peer-reviewed studies from the Scopus database. The research goal was to explore not just what the labels say, but how clear, consistent and useful they are for consumers and found that labelling rules often vary between regions, which can create confusion and reduce consumer trust. What sets this review apart is its focus on areas that often receive little attention, such as the mislabelling of protein content, the challenges in agreeing on terms for plant-based foods and the limitations of current front-of-pack labels. By pulling together insights across these underexplored topics, the research suggests ways to improve labelling so that consumers can make more informed, healthier and environmentally conscious food choices. Socially, it promotes the wider adoption of sustainable diets through informed decision-making, while practically, it highlights the role of improved labelling standards in encouraging healthier and more environmentally conscious consumer behaviour.

Gokulan, N., Moghana, S. L., Mahendran, K., Amuthaselvi, G., & Davamani, V. (2025). Strategic labelling of alternative protein foods and beverages for consumer clarity. Plant Science Today, 12(sp1). https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.8578

Abstract: Vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with multiple health benefits, yet they are frequently accompanied by warnings that they require “careful planning” to ensure nutritional adequacy. In contrast, similar caution is rarely applied to omnivorous diets. This narrative review examined the proportionality of such warnings by synthesizing evidence from studies published between January 2000 and June 2025. Peer-reviewed cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and position statements were reviewed to compare health outcomes, diet quality, nutrient adequacy, and public health implications across omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan dietary patterns. Vegetarian and vegan diets were associated with decreased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer compared with omnivorous diets. Although vegan diets were associated with a higher fracture risk compared with omnivorous diets, diet quality scores were generally higher among vegetarians and vegans, primarily due to higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as lower sodium intake. Nutritional concerns such as low vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and iodine were more common in vegan diets, while omnivorous diets frequently lacked fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium. The review found that all dietary patterns require thoughtful planning to achieve nutritional adequacy and prevent chronic disease. Framing vegetarian and vegan diets as uniquely risky may unintentionally stigmatize these dietary patterns, reinforce misconceptions, and promote complacency toward nutrient-poor omnivorous diets. Balanced public health messaging is warranted to reflect the shared planning needs across all dietary approaches and support informed, sustainable dietary choices.

Goldman, D., & Nagra, M. (2025). Asymmetrical dietary guidance: Reassessing the “careful planning” caveat in vegetarian and vegan diets. International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.22230/ijdrp.2025v7n2a615

Abstract: Shifting from meat-centric to plant-based diets can mitigate climate change, improve public health, and reduce animal suffering, among other socially beneficial outcomes. However, efforts to encourage these changes sometimes provoke defensive reactions, and there is limited experimental evidence on how and why such reactions occur. We tested a brief meat reduction intervention in a preregistered experiment with a demographically representative sample of 1070 UK meat-eaters (2 × 2 between-subjects design). The intervention had two components: a reflection prompt encouraging participants to consider how their meat consumption might conflict with environmental concerns, and an action plan prompt offering practical suggestions for reducing meat consumption. The action plan prompt backfired, decreasing willingness to reduce meat consumption and increasing psychological reactance. The reflection prompt also increased reactance. Additional analyses revealed that antisocial tendencies – traits such as low empathy and a lack of concern for the morality of one’s actions – were associated with lower willingness to reduce meat consumption, reduced support for plant-based food policies, and greater reactance. These traits also amplified the backfire effects of the intervention, further decreasing willingness and policy support among participants higher in antisocial tendencies. These findings help to link defensive reactions and dispositional traits as barriers to sustainable food transitions.

Graça, J., Fanter, E., Hopwood, C. J., & Hoeks, J. (2025). Defensive reactions to a meat reduction intervention. Appetite, 108354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108354

Abstract: This study investigates how pro-social, self-interest, and normative motives shape restaurant customers’ behavioral intentions toward lab-grown meat by integrating the norm activation theory (NAT) and the theory of reasoned action (TRA). While prior research has explored behavioral intentions for novel meat products, lab-grown meat remains underexamined. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed four key constructs: social benefits, social risks, personal benefits, and personal risks. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that social benefits enhance problem awareness and ascribed responsibility, while personal benefits strengthen attitudes and personal risks weaken them. Complementing this, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) demonstrated how these motives interact to drive consumption and word-of-mouth intentions. By integrating NAT and TRA, this study offers a novel theoretical lens and provides actionable insights for policymakers and marketers to address consumer concerns and encourage lab-grown meat adoption.

Han, H., Baah, N. G., Kim, S. (Sam), Quan, L., & Meng, B. (2025). When norms meet innovation: How pro-social, self-interest, and normative motives shape lab-grown meat acceptance in restaurants. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 1–31 https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2025.2567264

Abstract: Plant-based futures are becoming essential landmarks for policy promises aimed at transitioning from animal-based to plant-based production and consumption. Promises often manifests in technological product solutions, such as plant-based meat imitations, with the hope that consumers will embrace a transition in their eating practices based on a simple product substitution. Manufacturers are pivotal players in such a transition, as they develop and market the products available. This study investigated the experiences and anticipations of market futures among manufacturers of plant-based food products in Denmark. Focusing on market devices in socio-material networks as well as consumer imaginaries we show how negotiations of access to shelves between manufacturers and supermarkets and visions of future consumption patterns co-shape present strategies, and operational choices within companies.

Hansen, M. W. (2025). Shaping plant-based futures: The role of retail shelves and consumer imaginaries in plant-based manufacturers’ decisions. Agriculture and Human Values, 42(4), 2795–2808. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-025-10778-1

Abstract: Children have the potential to drive the adoption of alternative proteins (AP), yet limited studies explore children’s perceptions, alongside their parents’, using developed frameworks such as the Capability, Opportunity and Motivations of model of Behaviour (COM-B). Through an online questionnaire, we aimed to understand children and parents’ awareness and consumption of plant-based meat, cultivated meat and insect proteins in Singapore and their willingness to try (WTT) and willingness to regularly consume (WTC). We also examined which COMB domains predicted WTT and WTC as well as factors that predicted parent’s willingness to let their child try (LCT) and willingness to let their child regularly consume (LCC). Children (N=266; M=11.47-years-old) and parents (N=269; M=42.34-years-old) were most familiar with and reported greatest previous consumption of plant-based meats, compared to the other AP types. Among children, motivation was a significant predictor of WTT (ps≤.015), and capability was a significant predictor of WTC (ps≤.019) for all AP. For parents, motivation was a significant predictor of WTT and WTC for all types (except WTT plant based and WTC cultivated meat; ps≤.003) and capability significantly predicted WTC cultivated meat and plantbased meat (ps ≤.030). Opportunity was not a significant predictor for either WTT or WTC for children and parents. AP adding value to the child’s diet were significant predictors of LCT and LCC (ps≤.004). Our results help to uncover the complex nature of consumer perceptions of AP, and we make recommendations of interventions that could be developed.

Juraimi, S. A., Sheen, F., Fogel, A., Chong, M. F.-F., Smith, B., & Pink, A. E. (2025). Shaping future diets: Examining capabilities, opportunities and motivations to increase acceptance of alternative proteins in families. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5679962

Abstract: This field experiment explored whether and to what extent claims about expert recommendations (i.e., those of the chef) and recommendations from other restaurant guests influenced customers’ food choices in a restaurant. The menu in the study consisted entirely of vegetarian dishes, two of which were selected to be emphasised either as “Chef’s choice” or as “Guests’ choice” on the menu, thereby providing expert-based and social-based cues suggesting one of the dishes at different study time points. The selected dishes were a vegetarian version of a conventional Swedish meat dish (a plant-based patty) and a nonconventional dish (lentils with “zero-waste” pesto). Over four weeks, the restaurant’s sales data were collected, and customers were invited to participate in a voluntary survey. This survey gathered information regarding sociodemographic characteristics and more details about the dish selection, including subjective ratings of dish liking and overall meal satisfaction. A total of 1540 dishes were sold, and 524 customers participated in the survey. The plant-based patty was the most popular choice across all weeks, and the “Chef’s choice” had no additive effect, suggesting its high stability in popularity. Labelling a less popular dish (lentils with “zero-waste” pesto) with “Chef’s choice” had a positive impact on its selection, while labelling it with “Guests’ choice” made no difference. These results suggest that in the absence of meat options, some customers appear to transfer the concept of a meat-centric dish to a similar vegetarian dish (in this case, a plant-based patty), whereas a less popular dish with no resemblance to a conventional meat dish can become more popular when recommended by a presumable expert on the matter. However, further research is necessary to ascertain the efficacy of this effect in diverse restaurant contexts, based on designs with better possibilities to establish causality.

Kim, A., Baptista, I., Zorell, C., Neuman, N., Niimi, J., & Öström, Å. (2025). A field experiment on expert- versus social-based cues on dish selection in a restaurant. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 108, 102806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102806

Abstract: Transforming global and local food systems is essential for achieving current sustainability goals. A significant lever for the food sector is promoting a dietary shift away from animal-based proteins towards more plant-based options. Food retailers, positioned at the centre of the value chain, hold a uniquely influential role, as they have the capacity to shape the behaviours of both producers and consumers. However, consumer acceptability is a precondition for implementing behavioural change interventions, and there is a current knowledge gap regarding public acceptability of various retail-led interventions. In this study, we assess consumer acceptability of five categories of food retail-led interventions: information-based, norms-based, choice architecture, price-based, and choice restriction. In this mission we developed a survey and recruited a nationally representative sample (n = 424), we found price manipulations and choice restrictions to be less accepted than strategies building on information, norms, and choice architecture. Furthermore, a multi-level model showed that perceived effectiveness, fairness, and freedom of choice were significant predictors of acceptance for the interventions, with the exception that freedom of choice did not predict support for either the norm-based intervention or choice architecture. Lastly, we showcase how older age, positive meat attitudes, and strong meat-buying habits hindered acceptance, while biospheric values, environmental identity, and altruism facilitated it. Two potential courses of retailer action are identified: (1) immediately implement high-support interventions based on information, social norms, and choice architecture and (2) explore how to convey intervention effectiveness to increase consumer acceptability of price-based interventions and choice restrictions.

Linder, N., Bergquist, M., Bjälkebring, P., & Jonell, M. (2025). (Un)acceptable protein shift: Consumer attitudes toward retail-led interventions promoting sustainable diets. Food Policy, 136, 102971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102971

Abstract:

• Background
  • Encouraging the shift towards more plant-based diets in new generations is one of the major current challenges to preserve population and planetary health. Personal pledges to reduce meat consumption could motivate behaviour change, but have received limited scientific testing. We examined the effect of a “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge on immediate and long-term meat consumption of university students.
• Methods
  • In January 2023, 366 university students (21 ± 3.2 years old) consented to participate in the “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge and were randomized to the intervention group (n = 187, challenge in February 2023) or the wait list control group (n = 179, challenge in June 2023). Neither participants nor investigators were masked to group assignment. Participants chose between three meat reduction objectives: consuming meat 0, 3, or 6 times a week. They received a meat-free recipe book and followed an Instagram account where motivational information was posted daily during one month. All the participants completed a food frequency questionnaire in January (T0, before), February (T1, during), and May 2023 (T2, three months after the challenge) and data on meat consumption were analysed using linear mixed models.
• Results
  • The participants in the “Eat less meat” one-month challenge reduced their meat consumption by -67 g/day (95% CI [-82; -53]) during the challenge and by -50 g/day (95% CI [-68; -31]) three months later. The decrease was greater than in the control group by -34 g/day (95% CI [-55; -14]) during the challenge, but there was no significant difference between intervention and control group at three months follow-up.
• Conclusions
  • The “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge may be a promising strategy to drive short-term reductions in meat consumption and further work to improve longer-term effectiveness is now warranted.

Marty, L., Biehlmann, M., Louveau, A., Poquet, D., & Robinson, E. (2025). The “Eat Less Meat” one-month challenge: A randomized controlled trial of a meat reduction pledge intervention among French university students. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 22(1), 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01831-7

Abstract: Want more people to order plant-based? It’s not just about adding vegan options — it’s about changing the ratio.

Ólafsson, B. (2025, October 23). Do more vegan options mean more vegan orders? The data behind menu ratios. More Than Meats The Eye. https://bjornjohannolafsson.substack.com/p/the-science-of-vegan-ratios

Abstract: This meta-analysis investigates real-world nudging interventions to reduce meat consumption, uniquely focusing on 33 field experiments with 78 effect sizes that use revealed preferences to minimize attitude-behavior bias. Key findings indicate that the effectiveness of nudging interventions is highly heterogeneous (I2 = 99.97 %), with an estimated prediction interval ranging from −50 % to 28 %. Therefore, our focus is on the conditions that moderate potential nudging effects in food service: Interventions targeting decision structure yield a substantial effectiveness with reductions in meat consumption up to 30 %, among them, choice defaults with a 54 % reduction on average. Conversely, strategies based on information provision or decision assistance were found to be ineffective in promoting behavioral change. Our study also identifies a concern: approximately 30 % of interventions resulted in a backfire effect, leading to increased meat consumption. This proportion is higher than reported in some previous meta-analyses and could be attributed to less controlled field study environments or psychological reactance. Future research should continue to explore the complex interplay of moderating variables, investigate the long-term persistence of default effects, examine potential compensation behaviors, and analyze how individual values and attitudes might further moderate nudging success. Understanding these nuances will be crucial for designing and implementing truly effective and context-sensitive strategies to promote more sustainable and healthy dietary patterns.

Schäufele-Elbers, I., Bosnjak, M., Gastaldello, G., & Schamel, G. (2025). Nudging meat off the plate in foodservice? A systematic review and meta-analysis identifying moderators in field-based intervention studies. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102830

Abstract: The Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock (2023) emerged from the International Summit on the Societal Role of Meat, held in Dublin, Ireland, in October 2022. Over 1,200 global scientists have endorsed the declaration, emphasizing the importance of basing livestock systems on robust and objective scientific evidence. The Declaration stresses that livestock systems should be assessed holistically, considering their contributions to human nutritional health, environmental health, socio-cultural considerations, and economic contributions. It expresses concern about radical, unscientific interventions and calls for balanced, evidence-based policies in global food systems. Building on the Dublin Declaration, the Denver Call for Action (2025), issued at a follow-up summit in October 2024, urges policymakers, media, and business leaders to align their actions with objective scientific evidence. The Denver document emphasizes the necessity for policies that integrate a comprehensive view of science, urging that scientific discourse, free from bias, be the foundation of decision-making. It recognizes the risks posed by politicizing science but asserts that scientific transparency is crucial for gaining public trust.

The result of the October 2024 meeting was an Animal Frontiers special issue of peer-reviewed contributions. That special issue highlights the growing influence of dietary advice and its complexities. It critiques the EAT-Lancet Commission’s Planetary Health Diet, arguing that it oversimplifies the issue of nutrition by focusing on individual responsibility and ignoring the socio-cultural and economic factors at play. In response, the Nourishment Table framework proposes a more inclusive approach to nutrition, promoting food sovereignty and respect for cultural practices while focusing on food variety and balance.

Further contributions to the special issue address the ecological impact of livestock. There is growing concern over the environmental effects of livestock farming, particularly regarding methane emissions, and calls for a paradigm shift in managing livestock for ecological benefits. Studies highlight the importance of well-managed grazing herds for soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. However, radical reductionist policies targeting livestock could harm food security and raise costs for consumers. The special issue also explores the potential for technological advances in livestock production to address sustainability and food security challenges. However, legislative and regulatory obstacles often limit the implementation of these technologies. Ethical considerations regarding animal welfare and environmental responsibility are central to the debate, underscoring the need for more transparent, effective communication between scientists and the public. Ultimately, the special issue argues for a balanced, science-based approach to food systems, emphasizing the role of livestock in global nutrition and sustainability.

Belk, K. E., Ederer, P., & Leroy, F. (2025). 2024 International Summit: The societal role of meat and livestock. Journal of Animal Science, 103(Supplement_3), 171–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaf300.209

Abstract: The production of livestock plays a vital role in global food security, economic growth, and sustainable agricultural systems. However, challenges such as increasing demand for animal products, limited resources, and climate change impact the efficiency and sustainability of livestock production. This chapter explores the prospects for innovation in livestock production, focusing on technological advancements, breeding strategies, and management practices that can improve productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Key innovations discussed include precision livestock farming (PLF), genetic improvements through selective breeding and gene editing, enhanced feeding strategies, and sustainable waste management practices. Additionally, the chapter examines the potential for alternative protein sources, such as insect farming and plant-based proteins, to support the growing global demand for livestock products. The integration of these innovations offers promising solutions to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of livestock production systems in the face of evolving challenges.

Ghosh, S., Mondal, S. K., & Das, K. S. (2025). Production of livestock: Prospects for innovation. In A. K. Singh, P. Kumar, & S. S. Singh (Eds.), Sustainable Agriculture Management in Semi-Arid Climates: Volume 2 (pp. 225–242). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-94066-8_10

Abstract: The poultry industry has seen remarkable progress over the years and has been consistently contributing to majority of several country’s gross domestic product across the globe. The key factor for the rapid growth in the poultry sector is the ease in production with remarkable success in scientific integrative approaches. Another factor for poultry meat being the most relished food among different meats is because of its superior sensory qualities, nutritive value, low cost, and no religious taboos. Poultry meat and eggs are a rich source of nutrients required by humans and are high in biological value when compared to other foods. With the growing popularity and demand for poultry products, the processors are coming with more and more innovations in product processing. Poultry products range from a vast variety from comminuted, non-comminuted, shelf-stable products, and egg powders in the form of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat. Almost every eatery and market contains different poultry products along with other foods, and they are found readily available for the consumers. Designer meat and eggs, functional meat products, and low-fat meat products have become the choice of most health-conscious consumers, and these products started to occupy a steady place in the market. The awareness about different residues in poultry products sparked alarm among consumers to choose wisely the food to be consumed. This further posed a challenge to farmers and processors to produce safe and wholesome poultry products by implementing stringent practices in traceability from farm to fork operations. When compared with other species, poultry’s relatively sustainable production practices make it a preferred choice for those looking to reduce their ecological impact. With almost a promising pavement for the future of the sector, poultry products will occupy a key position in the food industry and will meet the different trends demanded by the consumer.

Sudheer, K. (2025). Trends in poultry and egg-based foods. In R. Nimmanapalli & M. Kumar Singh (Eds.), Trends in Animal-Based Foods (pp. 271–289). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-00575-5_12

Abstract: Meat consumption contributes to climate change and causes animal suffering. Being aware of animal suffering while at the same time eating meat may lead to experiences of meat-related conflict. One outcome of this conflict are the reasoning justifications used to support or oppose meat-eating. The present study builds on burgeoning work that has examined children’s reasoning about eating non-human animals by conceptually replicating and extending British findings in Germany. Here, 507 participants aged between 8 and 74 were asked to reason about why it is (not) okay to eat animals. Overall, meat-eating was justified as natural, necessary, or based on animal categories, and condemned as unnecessary or referencing animal welfare or rights. Conditional justifications for meat-eating included humane husbandry or reduced consumption. As hypothesized, children were more likely to mention animal welfare, whereas adolescents and adults were more likely to refer to eating meat as natural or to humane husbandry conditions. Additionally, participants’ reasoning differed as a function of their moral evaluation of meat-eating. Opponents of eating animals were more likely to reason about animal welfare, unlike proponents who were more likely to refer to meat-eating as natural or necessary. Compared to proponents, participants who were ambivalent about eating meat were more likely to mention animal welfare. Lastly, an exploratory investigation of generational reasoning differences between emerging adults and adults revealed no effects. Overall, our findings suggest a developmental trajectory from a focus on animal welfare in childhood to a focus on biological and conventional justifications beginning in adolescence.

Bagus, T., McGuire, L., & Beißert, H. (2025). Reasoning about eating animals across the lifespan. Appetite, 217, 108333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108333

Abstract: In Human/Animal Relationships in Transformation: Scientific, Moral, and Legal Perspectives, Augusto Vitale and Simone Pollo offer an updated perspective on multidisciplinary animal studies. Although the book omits viewpoints from critical animal studies and insufficiently includes law and policy contributions, Human/Animal Relationships makes significant contributions to animal studies. Generally, this collection provides an updated account of animal studies from the perspectives of natural sciences, philosophy, and political science. More specifically, the authors clearly articulate Darwin’s contribution to the field of animal studies, beyond the academic field of natural science, and in an accessible way. Last, the book’s contributions in philosophy and political science theory are valuable to animal studies scholarship.

Di Concetto, A. (2025). Human/animal relations in animal studies. Journal of Animal Ethics, 15(2), 211–217. https://doi.org/10.5406/21601267.15.2.09

Abstract: Wild animals suffer from many naturally occurring harms such as starvation, diseases, and conflicts with other animals, yet little research has been conducted on how people view the natural suffering of wild animals. In this paper we introduce the Attitudes towards Wild Animal Welfare (AWAW) scale. The AWAW scale consists of four subscales: caring about wild animal welfare, support for intervening in nature, idyllic views of nature, and intervention ineffectiveness beliefs. Items were pretested and verified across four preregistered studies (N = 2866). The factors demonstrated good reliability and strongly correlated with related measures, including general animal attitudes, speciesism, and support for specific wild animal welfare interventions. The idyllic view factor showed weaker correlations with other measures but was retained due to its theoretical significance. All four factors predicted a decision to give a bonus payment to a wild animal charity. Our aim is that the scale will facilitate further psychological research on wild animal welfare and, in turn, inform interventions and policies aimed at reducing the suffering of wild animals.

Knörr, A. (2025). The role of human attitudes and beliefs in animal welfare. ETH Zurich

Sleegers, W., Moss, D., McAuliffe, W., Reinstein, D., & Waldhorn, D. (2025). Measuring wild animal welfare attitudes: The attitudes towards wild animal welfare scale. PHAIR. https://phair.psychopen.eu/index.php/phair/article/view/17951

Abstract: We are excited to present this Special Issue, which shares new ideas and developments in the field of Animal–Computer Interaction, including those that advance scientific knowledge about animals, enhance connections between species, improve the stewardship of animals in human care and articulate the design of systems that offer greater autonomy to other species. This collection of articles features research with mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, including wild, farmed, zoo-housed and working contexts. The diversity of approaches illustrates how technology can be used as a tool to support humans working with both free-roaming and managed animals, facilitating initiatives in conservation, welfare and enrichment. This demonstrates the potential for interesting and insightful collaborations between animal experts and technologists, working together to create an equitable and sustainable future for all species.

Animal–computer interaction: Advances and opportunities. (2025). https://oerrepository.ntt.edu.vn/items/8a980100-a65b-4096-b02d-ee5c8317c8e9

Abstract: This month’s Faunalytics Index provides facts and stats about hammerhead shark fishing, the impact of playtime on cat hunting behavior, air pollution from industrial animal farms, and more.

Cant, M. (2025). Faunalytics Index – October 2025. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/faunalytics-index-october-2025/ 

Abstract: Social movements often embrace technological solutions to problems. Their role in technology development and adoption may be especially important in a technology’s early stages, when public or government support for new technologies is limited and for-profit companies have little incentive to invest in them. I examine the mechanisms by which social movement organizations seek to influence new technology through an in-depth study of the animal protection movement’s support for alternative proteins, plant-based or cell-cultured proteins that substitute for farm-raised meat and dairy products. I document how animal protection activists and interest groups created a network of organizations to support alt-protein development and product adoption. Their activities range from financing company start-ups and basic research and attracting investments from large food companies to marketing products and lobbying governments for policies favorable to the industry. I also show how the pivot by many in the animal protection movement to support a technological solution to the problem of farm animal welfare affected their coalitions and framing of the problem, and I argue that the high cost of new technology contributed to that strategic shift.

Hall, R. H. (2025). The role of social movements in new technology development: the case of the animal protection movement’s support of alternative proteins. Agriculture and Human Values, 42(4), 2879–2896. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-025-10788-z

Abstract:

• Purpose
  • The discourse concerning the incentives for protein transition also encompasses movements and organizations; thus, more attention should be given to the role played by initiatives promoted by associations and movements of consumers, producers and activists for achieving protein transition. This paper explores the role of participatory movements in reducing meat consumption to understand how they operate, how they are reshaping the problem of accessibility to protein alternatives and how their activities can be integrated into institutional policy frameworks.
• Design/methodology/approach
  • After defining a sample, following the principles of theoretical sampling, we performed a web-based analysis to gather information about 31 organizations and movements and their initiatives. The research design follows the main principles of grounded theory.
• Findings
  • The paper describes how initiatives operate and interact with people to improve awareness of protein transition and highlight future directions for policymakers.

Santini, Cristina, Bertella, Giovanna, Cavicchi, & Alessio. (2025). The role of participatory movements and organizations in plant-based food diffusion. British Food Journal. https://www.emerald.com/bfj/article-abstract/doi/10.1108/BFJ-11-2024-1190/1302593/The-role-of-participatory-movements-and

Abstract: This report examines 22 different ways of framing the issue of animal use and harm,

testing which approaches most effectively increase public support for animal

freedom. Drawing on data from over 2,000 participants, it analyses framings such as

care, fairness, authority, and shared wellbeing, and their influence on attitudes

towards abolishing animal farming. The results show that messages appealing to

shared values and inviting reflection, rather than blame, are most effective. The

findings provide practical guidance for advocates, highlighting which narratives

foster support and which risk provoking defensiveness or backlash.

Udale, R., Braine, N., & Maitland, H. (2025). How we frame the problem affects public support for animal freedom. Animal Think Tank. https://animalthinktank.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Framing-the-problem.pdf

Introduction: This report explores the practicality of applying New Zealand’s animal welfare standards to imported products, focusing on supply chain dynamics, economic implications, and the potential for retaliatory actions from trading partners. New Zealand has established itself as a leader in some aspects of animal welfare, with bans on practices like battery cages and sow stalls. However, as highlighted in the 2024 report “Closing the Welfare Gap: Why New Zealand Must Apply Its Animal Protection Standards to Imports” , current imports policy allows products from countries with lower welfare standards to enter the market, creating an uneven playing field for local farmers and undermining the wishes of Kiwis. The primary purpose of this report is to assess the feasibility of aligning import standards with New Zealand’s animal welfare principles. It aims to provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the implications of such a policy change, including its impact on supply chains, the economic consequences for consumers and producers, and the geopolitical landscape concerning potential retaliation from exporting countries.

Animal Policy International. (2025). Vision into action. Animal Policy International. https://www.animalpolicyinternational.org/vision-into-action-applying-animal-welfare-standards-in-import-policy

Abstract: The goal of this technical paper is to draw attention to the importance of animal welfare and how it connects to wider social, environmental, and agricultural issues. It focuses on how animal welfare improvements within farming systems can lead to other benefits, as well as benefiting the animals themselves. The examples throughout this paper demonstrate how sustainable livestock systems can benefit when animal welfare is incorporated as a priority. It is hypothesized that many more opportunities for welfare and sustainability gains exist. To identify these, and to mitigate situations that create trade-offs, system changes need to be grounded by evidence of improvements and include animal welfare assessment.

Animal welfare for production and working animals: Evidence and need for action. (2025). FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6930en

Abstract: Through framing analysis, this research spans a decade (2013–2022) of news on animal agriculture, focusing on the industry’s constituent bodies, farmed animals, to uncover how journalism operates with speciesism as a societal driving force. Findings indicate that animal welfare is framed as a scientific issue, while environmental news coverage downplays the struggles of these animals within industry operations. To conclude, the normative journalistic standard of accuracy is discussed as functioning primarily within an anthropocentric framework, while the news value of care is suggested as a remedy for social ignorance perpetuated by the press regarding farmed animals.

Rossi, M. (2025). Speciesist journalism: News media coverage on farmed animals and care as a news value. Journalism and Media, 6(4), 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6040165

Abstract: This Faunalytics study examines the impact on vote choice and perceptions of political candidates when those candidates propose changes to U.S. food policy. It focuses on voter responses to policy proposals aimed at supporting or opposing industrial animal agriculture.

Wulderk, Z. (2025). Political animals? How U.S. voters respond to candidates making farmed animal policy proposals. Faunalytics. https://faunalytics.org/political-animals-how-u-s-voters-respond-to-candidates-making-farmed-animal-policy-proposals/

Abstract: Plant-based diets have received increasing worldwide interest because of a wide range of reported benefits for both mental and physical health, such as preventing chronic disease. This study explores the diverse effects of plant-based diets on physical and mental health. Plant-based diets, which emphasize whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and nuts, have been linked to decreased risks of obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and certain malignancies. Due to the high fiber and antioxidant content, it claims to have beneficial effects on gut health, reduction of the inflammation, and protection against oxidative stress. These have all been shown to influence mental health by stabilizing mood, alleviating signs of anxiety and depression and improving cognition. The importance of dietary variety and nutrient-rich food selection is significant when preventing micronutrient deficiencies, including Vitamin B12 and Omega-3 fatty acid, that have impact on brain function and emotional resilience. Nevertheless, challenges still exist, such as the potential lack of essential vitamins and minerals, and the requirement for balanced diets with careful control in order to prevent adverse effects. Such research highlights the sensitivity of dietary composition and differentiating between nutritious and non-nutritious plant-based diets. Future research should concentrate on enhancing plant-based nutrition to optimize health benefits while mitigating potential risks. An well-structured plant-based diet serves as a sustainable method for improving physical and mental well-being while aiding in environmental preservation.

Allam, S., Khafaga, D. S. R., ElSherefy, S. S., Elgarawany, A., Abu Elainein, M. A., & Lasheen, N. N. (2025). The impact of plant-based diets on mental health (vegetarian diet). In W. Mohamed & A. Özge (Eds.), Feeding the mind: the connection between diet, drugs, and mental health, Volume 2: Innovations and specialized approaches in nutritional neuroscience (pp. 87–111). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-95-1983-5_5

Abstract: Although plant-rich dietary patterns like the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diets have been linked to cognitive benefits, the role of predominantly plant-based diets is less understood. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between plant-based diets and cognitive outcomes. A literature search was conducted in Medline and Embase using keywords related to plant-based diets (e.g., “vegetarian diet”) and cognitive outcomes (e.g., “dementia”). Studies of any design were eligible. Reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were conducted on prospective studies that examined the same dietary exposure and cognitive outcome, using fixed-effects regression models. Twenty-two studies were included, with considerable variability in methodologies and outcomes. Plant-based diets were defined either categorically (e.g., vegetarian compared with nonvegetarian), or using indices of adherence, such as the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), with higher scores reflecting higher adherence. Two meta-analyses, each based on 2 high-quality prospective cohort studies, examined associations between plant-based diet indices and cognitive outcomes. For cognitive impairment, pooled odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for highest compared with lowest quartiles were 0.61 (0.55, 0.68; I2 = 97.1%) for plant-based diet index (PDI) and 0.68 (0.62, 0.75; I2 = 84.3%) for hPDI. For dementia, pooled hazard ratios were 1.03 (0.91, 1.17; I2 = 0%) for PDI, 0.85 (0.75, 0.97; I2 = 0%) for hPDI, and 1.17 (1.03, 1.33; I2 = 60.3%) for unhealthful PDI. These findings suggest that dietary patterns emphasizing healthful plant-based foods and limiting less healthful plant foods and animal products are associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment and risk of dementia. However, findings across individual studies were inconsistent, highlighting the need for further high-quality research.

Bigras, C., Mazzoli, R., Laurin, D., Malavolti, M., Barbolini, G., Vinceti, M., Drouin-Chartier, J.-P., & Filippini, T. (2025). Plant-based diets and cognitive outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 16(11), 100537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advnut.2025.100537

Abstract: This paper critiques the widespread use of epidemiological comparisons between vegans and omnivores in mental health research. While such studies often attribute outcomes to nutritional deficiencies or benefits, they overlook key psychosocial and ethical factors, including elevated empathy, social stigma, and inconsistent dietary classifications. These confounds undermine causal inference and render observational findings conceptually flawed. Within-vegan analyses of diet quality offer more valid insights. We argue that future research could incorporate targeted psychological screening to better capture the ethical and social stressors unique to veganism, improving the accuracy and relevance of mental health assessments in both research and policy contexts.

Campbell, J. L. (2025). Mental health research in vegans and vegetarians: a critical commentary on ethics, empathy, and epidemiology. Appetite, 108348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108348

Abstract: The entanglement of hegemonic masculinities with the exploitation/consumption of nonhuman animals is substantially contributing to, and presents a significant barrier to addressing, overlapping ecological crises. A just transition beyond the (m)Anthropocene is therefore reliant on egalitarian/ecological masculine transformation that is inclusive of a reorientation of (hu)Man–animal relations. Drawing on Life History interviews with self-identifying vegan activist men, this article explores whether the vegan activist movement in the United Kingdom provides a site for such masculine ecologisation. I argue that involvement in the vegan activist movement can act as a transformative moment in the way men perform masculinities, towards an ethic of care for nonhuman animals and marginalised humans. However, the article will show that the movement can simultaneously reinforce hegemonic masculinities, stemming from a lack of intersectional/feminist awareness among some men/organisations. I argue that when such hegemonic masculinities go unchallenged, due at least in part to organisational inequality regimes, both the movement’s effectiveness and transformative potential are reduced.

Dunnett, C. (2025). Masculinities in transition: A life history study of the UK vegan activist movement. NORMA, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/18902138.2025.2575239

Abstract: This paper, based on my doctoral research project, discusses the usefulness of ‘action-minded’ research to navigate the complexities of real-life action research (AR) fieldwork and proposes the idea of ‘giving back’ as a form of AR principle and practice. I define ‘action-minded’ research as an orientation in which researchers think through the action research framework to strive toward democratic research relationships without necessitating their participants’ full collaboration. During my AR journey with Japanese vegan advocacy organisation VegeProject Japan, I found that adopting such an approach and ‘giving back’ to my participants in helpful and asked-for ways promoted trusting relationships and culminated in a dual positionality as both advocate and researcher that shaped my thesis. This approach is underscored by the view of AR as an aspiration, embracing that human beings are animals too, and thus, imperfect.

Ramsden, R. (2025). “Action-minded” research: “Giving back” and aspiring to action research with a vegan advocacy organisation in Japan. ALAR: Action Learning and Action Research Journal. https://alarj.alarassociation.org/index.php/alarj/article/view/471