“Animal welfare can be measured”
The certification Welfair® has marked a turning point in the agri-food sector, establishing itself as a benchmark in animal welfare. It not only guarantees the quality of life of animals on farms and in slaughterhouses, but also reflects the commitment of a team that works tirelessly to ensure ethical, equitable, and fair practices at every stage of production. With thousands of certified farms and a growing demand for ethical products, Welfair® continues to evolve to stay at the forefront of the industry. We've asked our CEO, Carles Rosell, to explain to us what the five years of presence of Welfair® in our country, the challenges it faces, and the crucial role that both science and direct animal observation play in the continuous improvement of animal welfare. We also explore how the Seal Welfair®, which certifies products that come from animals raised on farms certified in welfare animal Welfair®, positions itself as a guarantee of trust for consumers and a link with producers who can thus demonstrate their good practices.
A career marked by science and ethics
Carles Rosell's career has been marked by a strong connection with the animal world since his childhood, which led him to study veterinary medicine and specialize in animal production. "My interest in animals goes back a long way. We had a farm at home where, as a child, I helped my father take care of the animals, and that's where my motivation to study veterinary medicine came from," says Rosell. After completing his doctorate in animal health, his professional career led him to work in private companies, where he gained insight into the needs of production companies—companies like those currently undergoing audits. Welfair® for your certification.
It was later, during her time at the Institute for Agrofood Research and Technology (IRTA), that she began to become directly involved in projects related to sustainability and animal welfare, where she was able to combine management and scientific work. "One of the groups in the area I managed—animal production—was animal welfare. Little by little, and after a series of coincidences and demands, we began to develop the animal welfare project based on direct observation of animals, which later evolved into the welfare certification scheme." animal Welfair®», explains Rosell.
"One of my main responsibilities at IRTA was to help transform scientific and technical knowledge into a marketable product or service. It was then that we caught the attention of certification companies, which observed that our animal welfare methodology was based on scientific criteria. Specifically, on the concepts that emerged from the projects. Welfare Quality and Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN®) which the scientific team from IRTA and NEIKER (Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development) helped develop and reach consensus in Europe. We began a process independent of the industry, with pilot tests and animal welfare audits in different species and companies. Finally, with the values and parameters obtained from the initial project, and in response to growing demand, we created the Welfare Certification. Animal Welfair® in 2019″, he concludes.
Scientific origin and direct observation: pillars of Welfair®
The certification Welfair® is distinguished from other certifications by its scientific basis. Carles confirms: "The interesting thing about Welfair® is that the origin is scientific; there is a scientific knowledge and method, which allows you to establish repeatable and objective parameters through which animal welfare can be measured. This approach, based on science, has allowed Welfair® not only guarantees high standards of animal welfare, but also offers greater transparency to both producers and consumers.
Likewise, the methodology of Welfair® is based on observing animals and how they respond to their environment. "As I mentioned before, we assess animal welfare by directly measuring their behavior and physical condition, that is, from the animal's perspective and not from a human or facility-specific perspective, although these are also considered in the audit process. This has allowed us to strengthen the certification scheme and offer a more realistic view of animal welfare, rather than focusing solely on environmental conditions or those we humans consider important," says Rosell.
Consumers and international expansion
One of the biggest challenges facing certification Welfair® is to explain in a clear and understandable way what animal welfare is and why it is so important. Rosell highlights the growing importance that consumers are giving to animal welfare and how this has influenced the demand for certified products. "Consumer interest in topics such as animal welfare and sustainability has increased significantly," he says. Therefore, Rosell emphasizes that the objective of Welfair® is to improve communication with consumers so they can make informed decisions, ensuring that when they see the seal Welfair® know that you are purchasing a product that comes from animals that have lived in animal welfare conditions, according to their species and their own requirements.
Consolidated in Spain and Portugal, the certification Welfair®'s main objective now is to continue implementing measures that enable a process of continuous improvement for all producers and slaughterhouses. We are also considering international expansion. "We want to bring our certification to other countries, starting with Europe and Latin America, where there has already been a clear demand, which we are working on," says our CEO. "Each market is different, and a certain level of adaptation is required without losing the same high standards. However, animal welfare is a universal value, and our methodology is designed to adapt to any type of environment and different production systems, making it applicable to any country," he concludes.
Looking to the Future: Innovation and Growth
The future of Welfair® involves continuing to innovate and adapt to the new demands of the sector and consumers. "We are working to improve our standards. Technology will play a key role in this process, allowing us to be more efficient in data collection and animal welfare assessments and further promote continuous improvement. To achieve this, we rely on the collaboration of thousands of professionals in the agri-food sector, including livestock farmers who implement their expertise and best practices daily."
To conclude this talk, Carles Rosell emphasizes that the success of Welfair® depends largely on the collaboration of consumers, along with all the actors involved in the value chain. "Animal welfare is a shared responsibility between producers, distributors, certifiers, and consumers. And in our case, also between scientists. Each of us has an important role to play in the continuous improvement of animal welfare and in the adoption of ethical and fair practices," says Rosell. He also emphasizes that, looking to the future, Welfair® will continue to focus on transparency and adaptation to market needs: "We know that animal welfare is and will continue to be a central issue in the agri-food industry. We want to continue leading the way, working hard, and, above all, listening to both industry professionals and consumers. This commitment is what will allow us to continue evolving rigorously and making a difference."