“Without training and science, animal welfare cannot be sustained over time.”
Agricultural Engineer, Master in Animal Welfare from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Director of AgroGlobaly Local Partner of Welfair® in Argentina, Nicolás Carbonell develops his professional activity in the field of animal welfare in Latin America. With a career that combines consulting and university teaching, he has worked with producers and companies throughout the agri-food chain, promoting an approach to animal welfare based on “science, efficiency and sustainability”.
In this interview, Nicolás shares his professional journey, his vision on the state of animal welfare in Argentina, and the role he can play. Welfair® in the development of the sector.
The beginnings in animal welfare
Nicolás's journey began with training as an agricultural engineer. However, it was during his student internships on various farms that he began to question certain things: "In my day-to-day work, I encountered management practices and ways of treating animals that I didn't consider correct," he recalls. This experience was the starting point for delving deeper into the study of animal ethology, with the aim of understanding the relationship between the natural behavior of animals and production systems.
In addition, Nicolás participated in an academic exchange in the animal industry in Murcia (Spain), which further solidified the idea of creating an institution that could transfer that knowledge to farms in Latin America.
The birth of AgroGlobal
This concern gave rise in 2018 to AgroGlobal, an institution dedicated to "training and technical consulting in the food industry, with a special focus on the meat industry and animal welfare."
Today, Nicolás plays a dual role within the organization: he is its director and, at the same time, a technical consultant. Over the years, he has worked alongside professionals with more than three decades of experience, visiting farms, slaughterhouses, and dairy operations.
“Interacting with operators, managers and directors allowed us to understand how each link in the chain understands animal welfare, what it needs and how to communicate it so that it is useful to them,” he explains.
Training and consulting
AgroGlobal structures its work in two main areas. The first is training and education, through courses, diplomas and training programs aimed at all actors in the agri-food chain, from farm work to the end consumer.
The second area is technical consulting, which is developed through on-site training adapted to the production and technical realities of each establishment. “The important thing is to understand that there are no universal solutions. Each system has its own reality, and animal welfare must be integrated into it in a viable way,” he points out.
The perception of animal welfare in Argentina
For Nicolás, animal welfare in Argentina is already an established concept, and its importance grows year after year. However, he identifies a clear gap between the industry and the consumer: “Consumers still have a partial—sometimes erroneous—perception of production systems, while many companies are already seriously working on animal welfare,” he explains. According to him, this gap can only be reduced through clearer and more transparent communication.
It also highlights that large companies or those with a presence in international markets tend to show a greater affinity for animal welfare, driven by commercial and market demands.
Animal welfare, training and competitiveness
By analyzing the points of contact between AgroGlobal's objectives and standards Welfair®, Nicolás identifies three fundamental axes.
The first is promoting more ethical and sustainable production. The second is training and education based on scientific criteria. And the third is improving the industry's competitiveness by adding value to products and facilitating access to new markets.
“When animal welfare is properly integrated, it not only improves the ethics of the system, but also its efficiency and market positioning,” he states. In that sense, Nicolás emphasizes that advances in animal welfare are only sustainable when they are supported by training and clear scientific criteria. He reiterates: “Without training and without science, animal welfare cannot be sustained over time.”
Regulatory framework and challenges
Regarding legislation, Nicolás points out that in Argentina —and in much of Latin America— current regulations are still basic and focus mainly on handling during transport and slaughter.
“There is a lack of complete integration across the supply chain, from production to the final product, and a lack of alignment with international standards,” he explains. This integration would allow regulations to become not just legal requirements, but also productive tools.
Among the main challenges for companies when implementing animal welfare standards, the adaptation of production systems and associated costs stand out, as well as the need for a generational change that is already beginning to become visible.
Technology as an ally of animal welfare
Nicolás emphasizes the key role of new technologies in the implementation and evaluation of animal welfare. Sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence, and monitoring systems allow for progress toward a more objective measurement of welfare.
“Argentina is a highly technologically advanced country with a strong commitment to innovation. The arrival of protocols such as Welfair"® can accelerate both technological adoption and the improvement of management practices that do not require large investments," he argues.
The role of Welfair® in the future of the Argentine sector
As a Local Partner of Welfair® in Argentina, Nicolás believes that the scheme can provide a solid and scientifically validated framework for animal welfare in the country.
“The great strength of the protocol Welfair"Its comprehensive approach to the supply chain is something Argentina urgently needs today. The ability to offer complete traceability builds trust, improves consumer perception, and opens new market niches," he concludes.