(1) The speaker discusses synergies between animal welfare research and education in North America and the European Union. (2) They represent a group of 50 scientists from 10 institutions across 9 countries funded by the EU to develop scientific indicators of animal welfare. (3) Their goal is to integrate fundamental and applied animal welfare research through innovative communication with stakeholders using new online tools and a global hub for research and education.

1. Synergies between North-America
and The European Union on animal
welfare research & education
Adroaldo J. Zanella
SAC – Animal & Veterinary Sciences Research Group
Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Department of Zoology, Michigan State University
1

2. Animal Welfare Indicators
(AWIN)
• I am speaking on behalf of 10 Institutions in
nine countries, representing 50 scientists,
who have the mandate, from the European
Union to develop scientific indicators of
animal welfare (FP7-KBBE-2010-4)
– www.animal-welfare-indicators.net
2

3. Bonus contribution...outdated?
• I am also bringing to the discussion some
aspects of my experience from my work at
Michigan State University (1996-2006)
where I established a vibrant animal welfare
research and teaching programme.
3

4. FP7-KBBE-2010-4 program:
• Development, integration and
dissemination of animal-based welfare
indicators, including indicators of pain, in
commercially important husbandry
species, with special emphasis on small
ruminants, equidae and turkeys

5. Beneficiary institutions
5

6. Our goal
• Our goal is to integrate
fundamental and applied
questions in animal
welfare with an
innovative way to
communicate with
stakeholders and
interested parties.

7. Balanced template
• WP1: Welfare& pain
assessment protocols
• WP2: Diseases and
welfare (BRD-USDA)
• WP3: Pre-natal and
neonatal programming
• WP4: Global-Hub (later)

8. Balanced template
• Legislation
• Research
• Market driven tools
• Education, capacity
building and training
• Communication
• ...

9. DG SANCO mapping
• Directorate General for Health and Consumers
(DG SANCO) independent evaluation of the
European Policy on Animal Welfare (EUPAW)
(Food Policy Evaluation Consortium, GHK
Consulting in association with ADAS, UK)
– Final report summarized in11 main points
– I will address 3 of the points in our discussion
9

10. DG SANCO 3 (out 11):
• EU funding for research and scientific advice
on animal welfare, totalling about €15 million
annually, has made a positive contribution to
policy.
– Most funding has been for farm animals and the
development of techniques to facilitate the
replacement of in vivo animal testing.
10

11. EU and USA 3 (out 11):
• A comprehensive mapping of research
funding will be addressed by the ERA-NET
ANIHWA and AWIN in Europe.
– Are there initiatives to map funding strategies in
other parts of the world?
– Are there initiatives to sponsor zoo, wild and
companion animal welfare research?
11

12. DG SANCO 4 (out 11):
• The extent to which EU communication
actions have raised stakeholder and public
awareness and responsibility towards animal
welfare is unclear.
– Communication strategy and stronger
monitoring and evaluation are needed.
12

13. EU and USA 4 (out 11):
• We (AWIN) are developing a novel concept
to communicate with stakeholders and
interested parties through the Global Hub for
Research and Education in Animal Welfare.
– Are there opportunities for collaborative work to
promote transparency in animal welfare?
13

14. Work package 4 (WP4)
• The GLOBAL HUB will, initially, optimize
“immediate” dissemination of our scientific
work
– We have a team of programmers, in three
institutions, who are developing cutting edge IT
tools to facilitate communication with
stakeholders and interested parties

15. Accessible information
• We are developing a
collection of “learning
objects”, in several
species, available to
interested parties and
stakeholders
http://www.animal-welfare-indicators.net/site/learningobjects/awesome/painindicators/p

16. Technology for the platform
• We are developing new software
applications with our team of programmers
• To offer interactivity and flexibility to
conduct on-farm welfare assessment
• To search, update and share information
hosted in the Global Hub for Research
and Education in Animal Welfare.
16

17. Potential opportunities
• To develop a Global Welfare Assessment/
Judging competition. Following the model
which I developed together with Camie
Heleski, at Michigan State University (11th
competition in 2011).
http://www.umb.no/animal-welfare-library/article/about-us

18. MSU’s Animal Welfare
Resources

20. DG SANCO 5 (out 11):
• The EU’s international initiatives have
helped to raise awareness and create a
shared international understanding of animal
welfare issues and standards, particularly
with trading partners in markets for food
products.
– There is much more to do.
20

21. DG SANCO 5 (out 11):
• The EU Animal Welfare Strategy
Conference (29/02-01/03) had
representation from 48 countries
• The meeting today is another example of the
EU efforts to engage international partners
– The USA is EU largest trading partner
21

22. AWIN and Global Networks
22

23. Concluding remarks (2)
• We would like to discuss cooperation with
other initiatives
• Ongoing discussions:
– FAO Gateway which is a phenomenal resource
– Istituto G. Caporale
– EU funded projects: AWARE, ERA-Net ANIHWA

24. Concluding remarks (3)
• Our goal is to foster collaboration among
stakeholders, interested parties to address
issues in animal welfare
• Issues that have comparative aspects are of
great importance to our research goals
• Global networks of excellence will be
facilitated.

25. Acknowledgments
• EU Institue & DG SANCO
• FPVII team
www.animal-welfare-indicators.net

26. 26

27. Evaluation of the EU Policy on Animal
Welfare and Possible Options for the
Future
Final Report
Evaluation team: Matt Rayment & Puja Asthana,
GHK
Heleen van de Weerd & Jason Gittins, ADAS
Janet Talling, Fera