To the market and back? A study of the interplay between public policy and market-driven initiatives to improve farm animal welfare in the Danish pork sector

    Collection:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
    Contributers:
    Esbjerg, Lars (author)
    Format:
    Journal article
    Publication Date:
    2020-12-01
    URL:
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-020-10023-x
    Published:
    USA: Springer
    Location:
    Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 202 Document Number: D12044
    Journal Title:
    Agriculture and Human Values volume
    Journal Title Details:
    Vol. 37, issue 4
    Subject Term:
    animals, consumer information, farming methods, markets, private sector, public attitudes, public information, public relations, agricultural, and farm
    Notes:
    19 pages, via Online Journal, This article discusses the interplay of public policy and market-driven initiatives to improve farm animal welfare (FAW). Over the last couple of decades, the notion of ‘market-driven animal welfare’ has become popular, but can the market deliver the FAW that consumers and politicians expect? Using the Danish pork sector as the empirical setting, this article studies efforts to improve private FAW standards following changes to general regulations. The analysis shows that ethical misgivings regarding the adequacy of current and prospective FAW standards are tempered by the economic considerations that guide the practices of some actors. The study also shows that efforts to improve FAW standards are contingent on collaboration and coordination across globalised markets among actors with divergent interests. The findings have important implications for market practices and public policy in relation to FAW.

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