“Welfare Quality helped shift the focus of assessment to a system of animal-based measures.”

Harry Blokhuis, professor and senior advisor, has dedicated his career to animal welfare research, leading key international projects such as Welfare Quality and directing the European Union Reference Centre for Animal Welfare (EURCAW) for Ruminants and Equines. In this interview, he shares his career, advances in animal welfare assessment, and global trends that are shaping the future of the sector.

From ethology to applied research

Blokhuis's interest in animal behavior arose after reading the books of Dutch Nobel Prize winner Nico Tinbergen. “I was fascinated by his studies and his method of 'looking and wondering.' He showed how precise observation and recording of behavior (“looking”), coupled with imaginative questions about its function, causes, and development (“wondering”), led to interesting hypotheses that could be tested in a natural setting or in the laboratory,” he explains. During his studies at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, he discovered the importance of applied ethology for improving animal welfare and, influenced by professors such as Jos Metz and Piet Wiepkema, began his scientific career in this field.

He quickly realized that the key to improving farm animal welfare was international collaboration. "The EU has provided exceptional opportunities to develop multidisciplinary projects with strong industry involvement," he notes. For 25 years, he has coordinated ten European projects, including Welfare Quality, an initiative the professor describes as "the largest international effort in animal welfare to date."

Welfare Quality: A turning point in animal welfare assessment

One of Welfare Quality's greatest achievements was the creation of a common framework for assessing animal welfare, agreed upon by 44 partners from Europe and Latin America. "The project helped shift the focus of assessment from a system based on 'input measures' (relating to facilities and management) to 'animal-based measures,'" Harry emphasizes. This shift has been key to designing more precise and relevant protocols for industry and regulators.

Coordinating European cooperation in animal welfare

Blokhuis currently heads EURCAW Ruminants & Equines, a center that provides scientific and technical advice to the competent authorities of EU Member States. Its main objective is to assist them in the official control of ruminant and equine welfare requirements established in EU legislation. "Our work facilitates access to up-to-date scientific information and training tools for inspectors and control bodies," he explains.

The center is an international consortium that brings together institutions from Sweden, France, Austria, Italy, Greece, and Ireland. "Collaborating with different countries allows us to integrate knowledge from different environments, expanding the available experience and enhancing the center's scientific base. Adopting an international approach ensures that different circumstances and practices are taken into account, which facilitates the acceptance of the results," he emphasizes.

Global trends and the future of animal welfare

Blokhuis points out that, throughout his career, one of the most important changes he has detected is the growing acceptance of animal welfare as a key aspect in livestock production: "This acceptance has come hand in hand with greater social demand and numerous legislative and private sector initiatives to improve animal welfare," he says. He also highlights that consumer-facing companies, such as supermarkets and restaurant chains, are integrating animal welfare as a quality criterion and demanding higher standards from their suppliers, based on certification systems and external audits such as Welfair®.

For producers, adapting to these demands involves implementing science-based improvements and working closely with retailers. "The key is to collaborate to implement changes and share the costs and benefits of these improvements," he notes. However, he also emphasizes the importance of research in this process. "Science must continue to provide solid data to support improvements in animal welfare," he explains.

Another relevant change highlighted by the professor is the greater scientific basis for discussions about animal welfare: "Today, both industry and NGOs rely more on scientific results to argue their positions," he says.

Finally, Blokhuis delivers a crucial message: the interaction between animal welfare and other global issues, such as climate change, will be a challenge. In this regard, he emphasizes the need to integrate animal welfare with other global issues. "Research must adopt a more holistic approach, and science will undoubtedly remain the foundation for change."