The fate of billions of animals is in our hands
Factory farming is one of the biggest causes of animal cruelty on the planet. Billions of animals are crammed, caged and confined. We can’t go on this way. Factory farming is not the way forward - it’s time for fresh thinking.
Compassion in World Farming’s Food Business Team is working with some of the world’s biggest food companies - retailers, producers and manufacturers. The companies we work with are a key part of the drive towards a more ethical and sustainable food supply. Six of the largest supermarkets in the UK account for 87% of the money we spend on groceries. These and other major companies in the food industry have huge influence over animal welfare through their procurement policies and the prices they pay to farmers. With your help, we can continue to influence these powerful decision makers and improve the lives of countless animals.
The strength of an idea whose time has come
Over 265 million animals are now set to benefit each year from the higher welfare policies of all our Good Farm Animal Welfare Award winners. This is based on the number of animals every year that will live better lives when the pledges of our winning companies have come into force.
Fresh thinking – our impact to date
- We inspire progress through prestigious awards, and encourage and reward businesses which demonstrate a commitment to improving the standards of animal welfare across the EU.
- Starting in 2007, the Good Egg Award has celebrated UK and European companies who are using, or are committed to using, only cage-free eggs or egg products.
- In 2010 the programme expanded and we launched the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards, including the Good Chicken Award, which rewards businesses using or committed to using meat chickens reared in higher welfare systems.
- In 2011 we launched the Good Dairy Award rewarding companies that are using or committing to using higher welfare systems for dairy cows and calves.
- In 2012 the Good Pig Award will reward organisations that are taking steps to improve the welfare for sows and meat pigs.
Millions of farm animals are better off already
We are proud of the progress we are making.
Please watch our short film here.
Expanding team, international impact
Our aim is to place farm animal welfare at the heart of the food industry. The generosity of our supporters is making this possible. Put simply, the commitment from our supporters has allowed us to invest in new, specialist staff and resources. As a direct result, we are now able to drive change internationally and across a wider range of businesses: changing the lives of millions more animals and bringing our vision of a world without factory farming one step closer to reality.
But there is still much to do. Over the next five years, we have set challenging targets to improve welfare standards throughout the key markets of France, Italy, Germany and the UK.
The good news is that the food industry is receptive; momentum is gathering. Together, we are at the forefront of a drive to give farm animals a better life and transform the future of food production – but there is a long way to go.
You are the change
Engagement with food companies and The Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards are just some of the ways that Compassion is helping to fight factory farming. By supporting Compassion, you too are at the heart of this movement for change and can help us turn millions into billions, by making a donation today.
How we calculate the impact of our award schemes:
Good Egg Award winners are currently using or have committed to use cage-free eggs by 1st January 2012; we calculated the numbers of hens benefitting each year by compounding annual figures over the course of the award to date (2007-2011).
Good Chicken Award winners are currently using or have committed to use higher welfare chicken within five years; the numbers of chicken benefitting each year are based on the actual and committed figures of our winners since the first year of the award (2010).
Good Dairy Award winners are currently using or have committed to use higher welfare systems for dairy cows and calves; the numbers of dairy cows and calves benefitting each year are based upon the actual and committed figures of our winners since the first year of the award (2011).