Driving implementation: FAO side event 

To support this next phase, a dedicated side event,  Operationalizing animal welfare under the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation: gaps, opportunities, and pathways for real-world impact  held during the Fourth Session of the FAO COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock, provided a vital platform for dialogue. 

Convened by a coalition including Compassion in World Farming, Four Paws, the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL), ILRI, the University of Edinburgh, The Brooke, and the World Federation for Animals, the event brought together senior representatives, including FAO Assistant Director-General Tiensin Thanawat, COAG Sub-Committee Chair Donal Coleman, and H.E. Ambassador Jenifer Mojica of Colombia, alongside policymakers, scientists, and civil society leaders. 

Barriers and enablers to progress 

Discussions focused on key barriers to implementation, including: 

limited access to finance 
gaps in technical knowledge 
the need for stronger governance frameworks.

At the same time, participants highlighted enabling factors such as certification schemes, international cooperation, and strengthened multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

Importantly, the dialogue reinforced how animal welfare contributes to environmental, economic, and social outcomes, underlining its role as a cross-cutting driver of sustainable livestock transformation. 

The side event also underscored the importance of evidence-based policymaking and the need to address critical research gaps to support the scaling of best practices. 

By fostering inclusive dialogue, it helped build a shared understanding of the practical pathways required to embed animal welfare within national and international frameworks, contributing to more resilient and equitable agrifood systems. 

Reinforcing momentum through GASL 

Momentum continued at the Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership meeting in Dakar, Senegal (8 to 11 June), where a dedicated session on animal welfare further highlighted its growing importance. 

Organised by the Animal Welfare Action Network within GASL, the session emphasised the importance of integrating welfare considerations across GASL’s action networks and strengthening collaboration between governments, industry, academia, and civil society. 

From commitment to implementation 

Commenting on these developments, Federica di Leonardo, Compassion’s Senior International Affairs Manager, said: 

While the GPA reflects growing global consensus that better animal welfare supports productivity, environmental sustainability, and public health, the focus now shifts to implementation. Maintaining momentum will require sustained political will, increased investment, and continued collaboration. The direction is clear: from commitment to action and from policy to real-world impact for people, animals,  and the planet.

Global Plan for Livestock Transformation