Funds to help small farms in North America obtain animal welfare certifications and build local networks
The AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF), a private foundation with the vision to prevent and relieve hunger through agricultural development, announced its 2020 AAF Award goes to the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) along with a $50,000 grant to help small-scale farmers in North America strengthen their animal welfare practices and earn certifications for their production processes.
GAP is one of the largest animal welfare standards and labeling organizations in North America, and its multi-level standards impact the welfare of over 416 million farm animals on more than 3,900 farms, taking into consideration each animal’s health and productivity, natural living environment and emotional well-being.
While many small-scale producers are actively adopting and implementing humane practices, logistical issues and costs can serve as a barrier to entering a certification program. To help farmers achieve the certifications necessary, the project will leverage GAP’s existing model and program specifically designed for the small-scale producer.
The project will create a self-sustaining peer network for producers at GAP project sites and a cost-effective audit model for small-scale production. The team will also initiate supplier-based support for animal welfare and production skills and create a supply chain that supports local communities.
