Launched yesterday (10 October), the GCAW is the world’s first food industry-led initiative aimed at advancing animal welfare globally.
The global platform will unite 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 most well-known names in global food production and food service: Aramark, Compass Group, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services, Nestlé, Sodexo and Unilever, combined, they serve 3.7 billion customers per day.
They launched the GCAW to collectively address systemic barriers to improving animal welfare, accelerate the development of standards and drive progress on key welfare issues.
Today, more than 70 billion land animals are farmed for food annually, and, by 2050, livestock production is expected to double what it was in 2000.
GCAW will advance animal welfare through:
(i) Providing a platform for food companies to work more closely with farm animal welfare experts to identify common objectives and drive improvements;
(ii) Prioritizing welfare issues and developing roadmaps for industry change while supporting producers in implementing strong animal welfare practices;
(iii) Advancing animal welfare knowledge globally through industry insights, bespoke research and partnerships for action.
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.
Working with a group of multi-disciplinary experts from academia, industry and civil society, GCAW will aim to publish an 'agenda for change' during 2019.