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Moving to cage-free farming as part of sustainability transition can be win-win for environment and animals, finds new think tank report

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Ending the caging of animals, as part of a transformative change in animal agriculture, could make farming more sustainable and could bring better rural jobs, finds a new report by a sustainability think tank working on EU policy.

In the new report launched today (13 October), the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) explored the environmental and societal benefits and trade-offs of ending the use of cages in the production of egg-laying hens, pigs and rabbits in the EU.

If paired with ambitious actions on addressing overconsumption, reducing protein imports and implementing large-scale organic conversion of animal farming, a cage-free farming transition could trigger the much needed environmental and socio-economic transformation, finds the report.

The study was commissioned by Compassion in World Farming to provide an evidence-based assessment and inform EU policymakers ahead of a key decision on whether to end the use of cages in animal farming. Earlier this month, the European Commission received a European Citizens’ Initiative signed by 1.4 million people across Europe calling for a phaseout of the use of cages in EU farming. The Commission has six months to respond to the ‘End the Cage Age’ initiative.

Olga Kikou, Head of Compassion in World Farming EU and one of the organizers of the Initiative, said: “Factory farming is one of the worst offenders for the systemic breakdown of our one and only planet. The cage is not only a symbol for our broken food and farming system but it is one of the key pillars that keep this outdated model alive. We need a food and farming revolution. Let’s start by ending the cage age!”

Elisa Kollenda, policy analyst at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, said: “Our research finds that advancing a transition towards cage-free farming as part of a wider sustainability transition can be a win-win for both environmental sustainability and animal welfare. The recent Farm to Fork Strategy signals the need to review and improve farm animal welfare legislation alongside many other steps to improve the sustainability of production and consumption. The linkages between the two need to be clearer in the debate.”

  1. For over 50 years, Compassion in World Farming has campaigned for farm animal welfare and sustainable food and farming. We have over one million supporters and representations in 11 European countries, the US, China and South Africa.
  1. The Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) is a sustainability think-tank with over 40 years of experience, committed to advancing evidence-based and impact-driven sustainability policy across the EU and the world. IEEP works with a range of policymakers, from local to European level, NGOs and the private sector, to provide evidence-based policy research, analysis and advice. IEEP’s work is independent and informed by a diverse set of views, with the aim of advancing knowledge and raising awareness; and to promoting evidence-based policymaking for greater sustainability in Europe.
  1. Today, on 13 October 2020, IEEP presented the Transitioning towards cage-free farming in the EU report to representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission at a webinar organised by Compassion in World Farming.

IEEP conducted an independent study, commissioned by Compassion in World Farming, on how a transition to cage-free farming could support a sustainability transition in the animal farming sector while delivering wider positive benefits to society. The report presents a selection of policy tools and stakeholder actions that would support a transition to a cage-free EU, compiled through stakeholder consultations and a literature review. It describes three scenarios of how both farm animal welfare and the sustainability of production and consumption can be addressed simultaneously. Greater implications for almost all aspects of sustainability can be expected if the cage-free transition is accompanied by changes in the scale of consumption and production of animal products and if there is a substantial departure from the current large-scale use of concentrated feeds, including imported proteins.

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  1. On 2 October 2020, the European Commission received a European Citizens’ Initiative signed by 1.4 million people in 28 European countries which calls on the EU to phase out the use of cages for farmed animals. End the Cage Age’ is only the sixth European Citizens’ Initiative to reach the required threshold of 1 million signatures since the first Initiative was launched over eight years ago. It is the very first successful Initiative for farmed animals.

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