U.S.-German Forum explores animal welfare and agricultural viability

The U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture, a transatlantic dialogue organized by the Aspen Institute Deutschland and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has released new findings regarding the intersection of animal welfare, health, and economic viability in livestock farming.

Participants, including 17 farmers and experts from science, veterinary medicine, and economics, suggest that animal welfare and profitability should not be viewed as competing goals. Instead, they should be treated as mutually reinforcing pillars of resilient livestock production. High animal welfare standards can lead to healthier, more resilient animals and more sustainable production systems.

The agricultural sector currently faces significant challenges, including rising operating costs, labor shortages, changing regulations, and disease risks such as African Swine Fever and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

Broader discussions in the sector also highlight fundamental conflicts between traditional food production and goals such as nature conservation, species protection, and climate protection. Resolving these tensions requires clear policy guidelines and appropriate financial compensation for farmers to balance societal demands with agricultural feasibility.