Compassion in World Farming

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) was founded in 1967 by a British farmer, Peter Roberts, who was concerned about the rapid development of modern, intensive farming which was having an increasingly negative impact on farm animal welfare and the environment.  50 years on, CIWF has become the leading farm animal welfare charity with an increasing presence across the globe.  CIWF’s influence has resulted in the EU, which leads the way in animal welfare legislation in the world, as recognizing animals as sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and suffering. CIWF has also secured landmark agreements to outlaw barren battery cages for egg-laying hens, narrow veal crates and sow stalls across Europe.

CIWF’s Food Business engagement programme started in 2007 with the aim of placing farm animal welfare at the heart of the food industry, ensuring farm animals lead better lives - experiencing positive mental and physical wellbeing, whilst being free to express natural behaviors. This work is pivotal to effecting change at scale by supporting the move to higher welfare farming systems across the food industry.

CIWF works in partnership with ICCAW in China to engage with producers and companies to improve pig, broiler and laying hen welfare standards through its awards programme, which includes the Good Pig Production Award (launched 2014), Good Egg Production Award (2017) and Good Chicken Production Award (2017). These annual awards recognize producers for improving welfare, food safety and environmental standards.  

For more information on CIWF, please refer to their websites: www.ciwf.cnand www.compassioninfoodbusiness.com.