India Animal Fund

India’s Only Backbone Organization That Works in the Animal Welfare Space

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With growing impetus on the intersection of climate change, human health and animal welfare, Sandeep Reddy, COO, India Animal Fund, India’s only backbone organization that works in the animal welfare space, talks about the need for interventions, challenges and possible solutions for this critical intersection.

The intersection of human health, animal welfare and environmental sustainability is gaining momentum thanks to growing awareness. As a backbone organization in the domain of animal welfare, how do you see this development and how is the animal welfare sector gearing to maximize and utilize the advantages therefrom? Over the years, the intersection between human health, environmental sustainability and animal agriculture has been accentuated thanks to research that has proven the synergic interdependence of these domains; studies have also helped present a number of solutions to some of the most pressing problems this intersection faces, which is positive for the Animal justice movement. Of course, further research is needed to understand the socioeconomic implications of these solutions. According to the UNEP Frontiers Special Issue, the degree of adoption of these solutions, such as novel alternatives like plant-based meat, cultivated meat, and fermentation-derived foods, will likely depend on their cost, taste, social and cultural acceptability, and how they are regulated. If supported by appropriate regulatory regimes and governance instruments, novel ASF alternatives can play an important role, likely with regional differences, in a shift towards food systems that are more sustainable, healthier, and less harmful to animals.