Research project Scientific Reference Centre for Farm Animal Welfare

General introduction

As of 2025, the Scientific Reference Center for the Welfare of Farm Animals (RefWel) has been established by the Flemish government, to provide scientific support to the Flemish Department of Animal Welfare Flanders. The aim is to facilitate knowledge sharing, monitoring and policy advice to improve policy (and application) on farm animal welfare in Flanders. With its professional communication, the center focuses on livestock farmers, policy makers and other stakeholders working with farm animals.

Research approach

The support consists of four core activities:

1) organizing trainings,

2) completing ad hoc projects,

3) (later) monitoring farm animal welfare and

4) raising awareness of the sector.

Relevance/Valorization

These are the expectations set forth in the start-up document: The center strengthens animal welfare knowledge among Animal Welfare Flanders staff, livestock farmers and other stakeholders. It conducts studies and analyses that underpin policy, and reports on farm animal welfare based on scientific data. In addition, the center informs and sensitizes the sector and the general public about animal husbandry.