The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW), the world’s first food industry-led initiative aimed at advancing animal welfare globally, launched this week.
The group unites major companies and animal welfare experts in improving animal welfare standards at scale and in meeting consumer demand for food products from animals reared in systems that promote good welfare.
Founded by seven member companies, GCAW represents some of the largest names in global food production and food service: Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo and Unilever.
Together, these seven companies have combined revenues of €139bn and serve 3.7bn customers per day.
They have come together to launch the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare to collectively address systemic barriers to improving animal welfare, accelerate the development of standards and drive progress on key welfare issues.
The group will advance animal welfare through:
Providing a platform for food companies to work more closely with farm animal welfare experts to identify common objectives and drive improvements.Prioritising welfare issues and developing roadmaps for industry change while supporting producers in implementing strong animal welfare practices.Advancing animal welfare knowledge globally through industry insights, bespoke research and partnerships for action.The group has recognised that, in the first two to three years, it needs to do more than simply commit to developing new or more specific objectives – it is suggested that certain work programmes are established with focus on a few specific areas.
GCAW members have identified five priority work streams: cage-free policies, improved broiler chicken welfare, farmed fish welfare, antimicrobial resistance, and global standards for transportation and slaughter.
Considerations
The GCAW members have selected the initial focus areas based on three broad considerations:
Areas where there currently are substantial issues as well as barriers to change.Areas where animal welfare issues substantially influence the business of member companies.Areas where, through collaboration and through their combined influence, the member companies are able to achieve more to advance improvements and overcome obstacles to high welfare standards.Working with a group of multi-disciplinary experts from academia, industry and civil society, GCAW aims to publish an agenda for change during 2019.
Read more
Listen: how Canadian farmers get paid more for sustainable beef
Animal welfare inspections increase by 20%
The Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW), the world’s first food industry-led initiative aimed at advancing animal welfare globally, launched this week.
The group unites major companies and animal welfare experts in improving animal welfare standards at scale and in meeting consumer demand for food products from animals reared in systems that promote good welfare.
Founded by seven member companies, GCAW represents some of the largest names in global food production and food service: Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo and Unilever.
Together, these seven companies have combined revenues of €139bn and serve 3.7bn customers per day.
They have come together to launch the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare to collectively address systemic barriers to improving animal welfare, accelerate the development of standards and drive progress on key welfare issues.
The group will advance animal welfare through:
Providing a platform for food companies to work more closely with farm animal welfare experts to identify common objectives and drive improvements.Prioritising welfare issues and developing roadmaps for industry change while supporting producers in implementing strong animal welfare practices.Advancing animal welfare knowledge globally through industry insights, bespoke research and partnerships for action.The group has recognised that, in the first two to three years, it needs to do more than simply commit to developing new or more specific objectives – it is suggested that certain work programmes are established with focus on a few specific areas.
GCAW members have identified five priority work streams: cage-free policies, improved broiler chicken welfare, farmed fish welfare, antimicrobial resistance, and global standards for transportation and slaughter.
Considerations
The GCAW members have selected the initial focus areas based on three broad considerations:
Areas where there currently are substantial issues as well as barriers to change.Areas where animal welfare issues substantially influence the business of member companies.Areas where, through collaboration and through their combined influence, the member companies are able to achieve more to advance improvements and overcome obstacles to high welfare standards.Working with a group of multi-disciplinary experts from academia, industry and civil society, GCAW aims to publish an agenda for change during 2019.
Read more
Listen: how Canadian farmers get paid more for sustainable beef
Animal welfare inspections increase by 20%
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