The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has inaugurated a new internet portal expected to serve as a one-stop-shop for individuals and organizations searching for the latest information about the welfare of livestock.
The Gateway to Farm Animal Welfare is designed to provide a reliable information conduit on legislation and research findings in the sector, as well as on animal welfare standards, practices and policies.
The web is expected to benefit farmers and government officials, lawmakers, researchers, the livestock and food industry and non-governmental organizations.
It will provide an important forum for animal welfare issues related to activities such as transport, slaughter and pre-slaughter management, animal husbandry handling and the culling of animals for disease control.
Livestock production accounts for 40 percent of the value of world agricultural output and products of animal origin provide one-third of humanity’s protein intake.
Animals also contribute income, social status and security to roughly one billion people, including many of the world’s poor.
Since the 1990s, the centre of gravity for livestock production has moved from north to south and a few developing countries have emerged as powerful new players on the global scene.
The development is set to improve animal health, increase livestock production and response to natural disasters where animals are involved as the portal meets a real information need in this extremely important area.
By giving less economically developed country governments, professionals and producers online access to the latest information and the opportunity to contribute information relevant to their own situation, the portal will help to improve livestock welfare, health and productivity worldwide.
Compliance with animal welfare standards can open access to international markets for products from less economically developed countries.
The portal that will also offer on-line conferences and seminars, has been developed in collaboration with key international partners in animal welfare.
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