Harry Blokhuis, project coordinator
The Welfare Quality® project is surfing at full speed on the high waves generated by the activities of our partners all over Europe. The waves are now getting even higher and the speed is being increased by the interest and support of leading stakeholders, by important European developments in relation to animal welfare and by additional research projects that were recently granted by Welfare Quality®. Stakeholder involvement further materialises through the start of the European Animal Welfare Platform. This Platform is an exciting joint initiative of Welfare Quality® and of major companies that are committed to promoting animal welfare in their livestock operations and supply chains. The European Commission and animal welfare organisations are also involved. All partners are willing to share their knowledge and best practices in this area. The Platform should help to ensure that the achievements of Welfare Quality® will continue to be implemented long beyond the end of the project.
Recently, the European Commission adopted the Action Plan on the protection and welfare of animals (see below). This plan clearly supports Welfare Quality’s approach of developing standardised welfare indicators and other initiatives to link animal production practices with effective marketing and thereby provides clear information to guide consumer choice.
We plan another Welfare Quality® conference for stakeholders in 2007. This will provide us with an excellent opportunity to report our results and discuss them with a wide range of influential stakeholders and the media.
The sense of team spirit has really developed strongly within Welfare Quality®. I feel privileged to work with such a team of excellent scientists who are all committed to achieving results that I believe will have a great impact on farm animal welfare and sustainable agriculture in Europe.