FFAR to Help Farmers Improve Welfare for Hens and Pigs

The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a national nonprofit foundation established through bipartisan congressional support in the 2014 Farm Bill, and the Open Philanthropy Project, which identifies high-impact giving opportunities and makes grants, launched a partnership today to improve the welfare and productivity of egg-laying hens and commercially raised pigs. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) is matching a $1 million grant from the Open Philanthropy Project to support producers’ ability to adapt to a changing animal production landscape, partially driven by consumer demand for products such as cage-free eggs and increasing global demand for pork. FFAR will support the competitive research initiatives valued at $2 million in total.One goal of the research initiative is to reduce bone fractures in egg-laying hens. Bone fractures, which cause pain and decrease egg production, are one known challenge to raising hens in cage-free housing systems. With all top 25 U.S. grocers and the majority of the top 20 fast food chains working to meet cage-free pledges, this issue is increasingly salient. Potential research to improve keel bone health might explore ways to increase bone strength through breeding or new dietary formulations and improving housing design.Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates of the number of hens needed to meet existing cage-free pledges, this research has the potential to improve the welfare and productivity of approximately 100 million hens by 2025.