Synergies between North-America and The European Union on animal

welfare research & education

Synergies between North-America and The European Union on animal

welfare research & education

Adroaldo J. ZanellaSAC – Animal & Veterinary Sciences Research Group

Norwegian University of Life SciencesDepartment of Zoology, Michigan State University

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Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN)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

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Bonus contribution...outdated?Bonus contribution...outdated?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.

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FP7-KBBE-2010-4 program: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

Beneficiary institutionsBeneficiary institutions

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Our goalOur goal

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

Balanced templateBalanced template

• WP1: Welfare& pain assessment protocols

• WP2: Diseases and welfare (BRD-USDA)

• WP3: Pre-natal and neonatal programming

• WP4: Global-Hub (later)

Balanced templateBalanced template

• Legislation

• Research

• Market driven tools

• Education, capacity building and training

• Communication

• ...

DG SANCO mappingDG 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

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DG SANCO 3 (out 11): 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.

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EU and USA 3 (out 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?

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DG SANCO 4 (out 11): 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.

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EU and USA 4 (out 11): 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?

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Work package 4 (WP4)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

Accessible informationAccessible 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/painindicators.html

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Technology for the platformTechnology 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.

Potential opportunitiesPotential 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

MSU’s Animal Welfare ResourcesMSU’s Animal Welfare Resources

DG SANCO 5 (out 11): 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.

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DG SANCO 5 (out 11): 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

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AWIN and Global NetworksAWIN and Global Networks

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Concluding remarks (2)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

Concluding remarks (3)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.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

• EU Institue & DG SANCO

• FPVII team

www.animal-welfare-indicators.net

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Evaluation of the EU Policy on Animal Welfare and Possible Options for the

Future

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, ADASJanet Talling, Fera