Every year nearly 70bn animals are farmed for meat, milk and eggs. As agriculture has intensified, so too have the concerns about animal welfare. Since 2013 food manufacturers and retailers have been able to compare their animal welfare practices with an industry benchmark created by the Compassion in World Farming and the World Society for the Protection of Animals.
Since introducing the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare a year ago, the organisations have experienced an increase in interest in this issue from retailers and investors. It appears the benchmark has encouraged companies to up their game.
For example, there has been a 10 percentage point rise in companies publishing farm animal welfare policies. There has also been an 18 point rise in the provision of customer information on farm animal welfare and a 15 point increase in the communication of objectives and targets on this issue.
"We use the benchmark as a means of providing further clarity on our animal welfare requirements and activities for the benefit of our consumers and investors," says Mark Atherton-Ranson, agriculture sourcing and animal welfare manager for Marks & Spencer.
The animal welfare organisations have published investor briefings to highlight the business case for action and encouraged companies to talk about farm animal welfare risks and opportunities. By publishing the annual benchmark – ranking companies' performance – and providing investors with individual reports to support their investment research, they have also plugged a gap in reliable data and analysis.
"The Benchmark is the 'go-to' tool for investors on farm animal welfare. It offers a rich stream of questions [that] allows investors to engage with food companies in a structured, focused manner," says Abigail Herron, head of responsible investment engagement at Aviva Investors.
Nicolette Fox is part of the wordworks network
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