Research Brief 2 - Exploring opportunities and risks of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP)

An unprecedented set of challenges now confronts livestock food systems in Britain. With household budgets being squeezed, producers, processors, retailers and wholesalers are under increasing pressure to maintain the affordability of their products despite rising input costs. At the same time, the need to achieve and demonstrate high standards in environmental sustainability, animal health and welfare, and nutritional quality only adds to the difficulties. Meanwhile, uncertainties over potential future trading, legal and political arrangements following the UK’s departure from the EU represent a yet further layer of complexity.

A research project focused on beef and sheep production and marketing systems in Great Britain led by the University of Hertfordshire and the Royal Veterinary College, has been looking at how the sector might maintain and improve its economic, social and environmental sustainability in the face of these multiple challenges. A key issue being explored are the implications of the UK government’s recently launched Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP): specifically, will it actually lead to measurable improvements and what might be possible downsides for the beef and sheep sector?

In this research briefing, we discuss our work on the implications of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (AHWP), and how negative impacts might be minimised.