BBFAW: Woolworths still reviewing its links to animal welfare benchmark

Woolworths is still reviewing its affiliation with a group which wants to halve the number of animals farmed across the globe, despite fierce backlash.

Australia’s major supermarkets are yet to renounce a British organisation intent on drastically scaling back animal agriculture.

Two months ago Woolworths committed to review its affiliation with the Business Benchmark for Farm Animal Welfare after The Weekly Times revealed it had been set-up by two animal welfare organisations wanting to end factory farming and halve the number of animals farmed for food globally by 2040.

Woolworths had committed to “working towards a Tier 1 score on the BBFAW”.

Woolworths announced its review following backlash from peak farming groups, from Cattle Australia to the National Farmers’ Federation, which have called on the retailer to cut all ties with the European-centric BBFAW, given its apparent lack of understanding of Australia’s farming systems and animal welfare standards.

A Woolworths spokesman told The Weekly Times the review was ongoing.

The retailer had said it would review its aspiration for a “Tier 1” leadership ranking with the BBFAW due to its evolving assessment criteria.

Changes flagged for this year’s benchmark include ranking major food producers and retailers – from Cargills to Tesco and Coles – on their efforts to reduce their reliance on animal-based proteins.

Meanwhile, Coles did not respond when asked whether it would continue to reference BBFAW in its annual sustainability reports as a means of measuring its animal welfare credentials.

Victorian Farmers Federation egg council president Tony Nesci wants the supermarkets to stand up to animal activists.

Victorian Farmers Federation egg council vice-president Tony Nesci said organisations like those behind the benchmark, Compassion in World Farming and Four Paws, were bullying small producers and supermarkets alike.

“But the supermarkets need to stand up to them. Why should they dictate to the rest of the population what they can and can’t eat?” Mr Nesci said.

“The issue here is these groups want animal farming banned, not just reduced … It’s up to the supermarkets to draw a line in the sand and say we have a responsibility to supply cheap, reliable food to customers that 85-90 per cent of people want to eat.”