Since 2015, over 125 Canadian food companies have committed to farmed animal welfare policies, largely through a coordinated coalition effort led by animal advocacy organizations. Most major companies that have made global, regional, or country-specific cage-free egg, crate-free pork, or broiler chicken welfare commitments have deadlines to complete transition between 2020 and 2026. However, there has yet to be a Canada-focused report or public platform that analyzes their progress toward compliance. 

Presented by the leading organizations addressing corporate farmed animal welfare in Canada, this panel will provide an overview of the work that Mercy For Animals Canada, HSI Canada, and World Animal Protection are doing to hold Canadian companies accountable to multi-species animal welfare commitments. First, we will provide a summary of where Canada’s largest food companies stand on animal welfare initiatives, highlighting the importance of ongoing accountability through public progress reporting. Second, we will present tools and tactics for effective corporate relations and campaign work with relevant takeaways for other areas of institutional animal welfare reform. Lastly, we will discuss strategic considerations for advancing farmed animal welfare in Canada through market- and consumer-driven corporate policies. 

Key Learnings :

1. Understanding corporate animal welfare progress in Canada.
2. Approaches to effective institutional and policy change for farmed animals.
3. Strategic directions for corporate animal welfare policy work in Canada.