The Welfare Footprint Framework can help balance animal welfare with other food system priorities

Abstract

Animal welfare lacks sufficient methods for quantitative inclusion in food system impact assessments. The Welfare Footprint Framework addresses this gap, revealing that adopting slower-growing breeds can prevent at least 15–100 hours of intense pain in chickens at an estimated cost of US$1 per kilogram of meat, or US$0.00003–0.00005 for each hour using carbon externality pricing.