A cache of unpublished records obtained in summer 2023 reveals disturbing new evidence on the extent and nature of the EU’s trade in farm animals.

The data comprises official planning records relating to more than 180,000 consignments of animals, moving between EU countries and to non-EU countries between October 2021 – April 2023. It clearly shows that the rules for live transport are not robust or detailed enough to truly protect the welfare of animals in the sector.

A joint report by Eurogroup for Animals and Compassion in World Farming.

As of November 2023, ten species of insect are currently authorised (or are pending authorisation) to be farmed in Europe. While the insect farming industry is rapidly developing and is already rearing insects by the billions, clear rules on their welfare are still missing due to lack of research and interest from policymakers.

This report explores one critical welfare consideration that is currently being overlooked: the diets of farmed insects. It describes what each species is being fed on insect factory farms in the EU, and offers recommendations for improvement. Ultimately, through positive diet change, this research aims to improve farmed insects' quality of life in a rapidly-expanding sector that shows no sign of slowing down.

Foreword by Eurogroup for Animals. Report by Dr. Helen Lambert and Dr. Amelia Cornish.

Eurogroup for Animals commissioned Human Behaviour Change for Life (HBCL) to write this report: ‘Business case: the benefits of a carcass over a live animal trade’.

This document considers the business case for a change to the export of carcass meat instead of live animals from the European Union (EU) to third countries. It includes the current economic, environmental, and societal challenges and opportunities that these different approaches present.

The research provides a unique insight into the costs of the trade through the development and use of innovative modelling, frameworks, case studies and evidence-based approaches. It enables the consideration of how a move from live animal export towards a meat and carcass trade could be advantageous for the agricultural sector, the environment, and wider society.

A new report by the 'Put Change on the Menu' coalition (Eurogroup for Animals, the European Public Health Alliance and the European Consumer Organisation).

There's growing evidence that our food choices are shaped by the ‘food environments’ we navigate in.* Most people, however, do not realise the extent to which our eating habits are steered by powerful influences in our everyday lives, from the food ads that are pushed in front of us to the 'promos' and discounts on offer at our local supermarkets.

Unfortunately, today’s food environments largely steer us towards diets which are not in-line with healthy eating recommendations, high animal welfare standards, or the European Commission's vision for sustainable food and farming.

This report takes a look at the critical role of food environments in encouraging citizens to shift to healthy, more plant-based diets with ‘less and better’ animal source foods, and argues why these environments should be a critical consideration when the Commission works on its Framework for Sustainable Food Systems legislation this autumn (2023). It was launched at an event on July 28 - watch the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Jrtx_mbUk8

* Food environments are the “physical, economic, political and socio-cultural context in which consumers engage with the food system to make their decisions about acquiring, preparing and consuming food”. (Source: HLPE ‘Nutrition and food systems’ report)

Report by the Impact Institute, commissioned by Eurogroup for Animals - now with a new annex (updated September 2023).

Domesticated animals play a major role in human agricultural and food systems, both historically and today. The continuous growth in global wealth, as well as increased efficiency and industrialisation of animal sourced food production, has created both unprecedented quantities of, and access to, animal sourced food.

In view of these developments, Eurogroup for Animals commissioned an investigation into the true
costs of EU animal sourced food production and consumption. This report discusses the assessment of the EU’s production and consumption of animal sourced food. It evaluates the extent of external costs to human health, the environment, low animal welfare and human livelihood brought about by producing and consuming animal sourced food.

Moreover, the report discusses recommendations to address the externalities of the industrial animal food industry. This work can be used to inform policy and decision-making processes regarding the new EU animal welfare legislation.

Though the EU recognises farmed animals as sentient beings, the current animal welfare legislation does not take into account their innate needs and natures. In fact, loopholes and oversights in the laws that were written to protect them mean these poor beings are often mistreated and neglected by those that are meant to care for them, as well as housed in miserable environments, fed poor diets, and slaughtered inhumanely after experiencing lives full of stress, frustration and anxiety.

This cannot continue. When the European Commission revises the animal welfare legislation later this year, they must include strong, precise, and species-specific rules that support and protect the mental, emotional and physical state of all farm animals. This report covers five species and issues that particularly need the Commission's attention.

This report was created in-line with this exposé video, which features undercover footage from our MOs of the issues it explores (https://youtu.be/1LqIK_JVadg).

Many producers, retailers and food manufacturers across the EU have already embraced society’s call to ‘End the Cage Age’. This report summarises numerous interviews with stakeholders involved in all different stages of the supply chain, focusing on shifting to non-cage systems for sows, rabbits, and laying hens. Contains case studies, scientific evidence, data and recommendations for a smooth and swift cage-free transition.

Since 2017, European industry has started significantly scaling up the industrial farming of new animals, including several species of insects. It aims to rear trillions of insects annually, which would make them the most industrially-farmed animals in Europe. This report takes a look at how this type of farming could impact the wellbeing of insects, as well as how this new source of animal feed could have a knock-on effect on the livestock farming sector, along with the sustainability of Europe’s food systems.

Ten species of insects are authorised for food or feed in the EU, and the number is likely to grow over the coming years. Insects are seen as a solution to food sustainability both as a replacement feed for animals and as a protein source for humans. However, the situation is not clear-cut. Industrial insect production does not go hand in hand with sustainable food systems.

Taking insect welfare as a starting point, this review highlights that:
1. The EU needs to ensure that insect production does not exacerbate the food-feed competition.
2. Insects used in feed must not slow progress towards the EU’s sustainable food system objectives.
3. The welfare of insects needs to be taken into account as they have behavioural needs and cognitive abilities.
4. Genetic manipulation of insects is part of the business model, it must be approached with caution as it can give rise to new welfare concerns.