Businesses Paving the Way to a Better Future for Animals
Dr. Tracey Jones, Global Director of Food Business at Compassion in World Farming, reflects on the award winners following the Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards in Paris.
Since 2013, Tracey has led Compassion’s Food Business programme, collaborating with leading food companies across Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific.
She is dedicated to improving the welfare of animals reared for food and advancing Compassion’s mission to reduce meat and dairy consumption whilst encouraging a shift towards regenerative farming for a healthier planet.
Yesterday in Paris, we proudly hosted our Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards, recognising 49 winners from around the globe for their leadership in farmed animal welfare and sustainable, nature-friendly food.
We were delighted to welcome our patron, Deborah Meaden, as host of the ceremony which celebrated winners from over 15 countries whose commitments will positively benefit the lives of over 500 million animals each year.
A standout aspect of this year’s awards was the record number of companies recognised for championing the cage-free movement for hens, sows, and rabbits, reinforcing Compassion’s mission to End the Cage Age. These cage-free pioneers hailed not only from Europe, but also across Asia and Latin America — regions often seen as challenging markets, yet home to many of this year’s Good Egg Award winners, highlighting the growing global momentum for cage-free production.
Corporate support is vital for advancing cage-free production and Francesco Tramontin, VP Global Public Affairs at Ferrero was at the ceremony to speak about Ferrero’s global cage-free journey and their support for an EU-wide cage ban.
Among the 49 winners, 13 companies spanning Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Brazil were awarded Good Egg Awards for their cage-free commitments, including the first-ever Good Egg Award in India. We also celebrated two Good Egg Production Award winners from China.
Additionally, five Good Pig Award winners from Italy, including Bompieri, one of Italy’s leading pig producers, were recognised for leading the shift to cage-free systems for sows, setting an excellent example for the entire pig industry.
One notable new award this year was the inaugural Sow Stall Free Award, presented to KPS Farm, a Thai producer implementing a 100% sow stall-free system. This recognition marks a significant step in improving pig welfare in Thailand.
Two companies received Good Rabbit Commendations for their commitments to improve the welfare of meat rabbits. White Oak Pastures in the U.S. leads the way with its innovative “rabbitats,” — moveable enclosures designed to mimic natural habitats. In France, Les Mousequetaires, the country’s third-largest retailer, is a longstanding supporter in the fight against cages. By 2029 all fresh own-brand meat sold in France will come from cage-free rabbits raised in spacious pens with access to burrows, platforms, and gnawing materials.
These forward-thinking companies and others, as highlighted in our recent report Food Businesses Paving the Way to a Cage-Free Europe, demonstrate that large-scale cage-free farming is not only achievable but the right thing to do — for their customers, their brand, and the animals in their supply chain.
Five companies in the US received Good Chicken Awards for improving the welfare of broiler chickens by ensuring better breeds, more space, and enriched environments, in line with their Better Chicken Commitments. In Thailand, Klong Phai Farm received a Good Turkey Award for their ethical practices, which have established them as a trusted supplier to over 300 hotels and restaurants.
In the dairy sector, Fonterra in New Zealand has worked with Compassion for over a decade. They received a Good Dairy Commendation for ensuring cows have pasture access, are monitored using welfare indicators, and for promoting higher welfare through open farm days and videos. They were joined by Max Havelaar, owner of the Fairtrade marks, marking the first time we’ve awarded a certification scheme. Compassion co-developed their dairy welfare standards, leading to strong animal welfare criteria and a Good Dairy Commendation.
Dutch dairy company Kalverliefde received a Good Calf Commendation for their unique policy of keeping calves with their mothers for up to three months, while providing outdoor access, ample space, and comfortable resting areas to minimize stress. They also won this year’s prestigious Best Marketing Award for their successful campaign that highlighted this policy, beautifully captured by the tagline: “First the calf, then us.”
Innovation is key to meaningful change, and Zonvarken in the Netherlands exemplified this by winning the Best Innovation Award. Their unique pig farming model prioritises the highest standards of animal welfare while benefiting the environment and supporting farmers.
Special Recognition Awards in aquaculture were also a highlight of this year’s ceremony. Swiss-based Regal Springs received the first Aquaculture Innovation Award for implementing humane electrical stunning methods in their tilapia production. Albert Heijn in the Netherlands and Marks & Spencer in the UK were recognised for eliminating eyestalk ablation in their shrimp supply, a cruel practice used to increase egg production. Additionally, Chilean salmon producer Cermaq was recognised for their global commitment to humane slaughter, benefitting over 45 million salmon each year.
While species-specific welfare improvements are vital, the holistic efforts of some companies to tackle broader environmental impacts — such as soil degradation and biodiversity loss — are equally important.
Compassion’s Sustainable Food & Farming Awards recognise producers and food companies making strides in higher welfare meat, dairy, and egg production while also protecting and restoring the environment.
Waitrose received this year’s Corporate Sustainable Food & Farming Award for its commitment to regenerative farming practices at their 2,800-acre Leckford Estate. The company aims to source all its UK meat, milk, eggs, fruit, and vegetables from farms using regenerative methods by 2035. Additionally, Leckford will serve as a Regenerative Agriculture Centre of Excellence to educate others on these regenerative practices.
In the U.S., White Oak Pastures won the Producer Sustainable Food & Farming Award for converting conventional fields into pastured grasslands. Their methods have improved rainwater retention and contribute to ecosystem restoration. White Oak Pastures also promotes agrotourism, allowing visitors to stay and learn about regenerative farming firsthand.
Finca Regenerativa Valle del Conde in Spain received a Special Recognition Award in the Sustainable Food and Farming category. Since 2019, they have focused on regenerative agriculture, prioritising soil health through grazing sheep, which has transformed their olive fields into biodiverse, multi-species grasslands. This approach has fostered a thriving ecosystem and produced high-quality olive oil with an exceptional nutritional profile.
A key part of Compassion’s mission is to encourage a reduction in meat and dairy consumption while increasing plant-based foods for a healthier planet. We were delighted to have Pierre-Marie Aubert, Director of the Agriculture & Food Policy Programme at IDDRI, as keynote speaker at the ceremony, emphasising the urgent need for action to meet environmental targets and protect the planet.
Lidl GB received a Bronze-level Planet Friendly Award for being the first UK retailer to launch a protein strategy to shift the proportion of protein sales to 25% plant-based by 2030. While Compass Group France received the Gold-level Planet Friendly Award for their ambitious commitment to reducing animal-sourced proteins by 25% by 2029.
This year’s Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards have showcased the remarkable progress that companies worldwide are making toward more humane and sustainable food production. These trailblazers are not only setting a powerful example for others but also demonstrating that meaningful change is not only possible but also profoundly beneficial for animals, people, and our planet. Together, we can inspire a future where compassion and sustainability go hand in hand, creating a better world for all.
For more information about each winner, please use this link for our Food Business web news, thank you: Find out more about this year’s Award winners here
Note: This blog was first published on Philip Lymbery’s website on Tuesday 22nd October, 2024
