Farm Animal Welfare Impact Evaluation 2026
Farm Animal Welfare Impact & Sustainability Evaluation

FARMWISE Impact 2026

FARMWISE Impact 2026 is an NGO-led corporate assessment of major Japanese companies to evaluate the degree to which their farm animal welfare initiatives have an “impact” on actual welfare improvements. Impact” in this evaluation refers not only to the existence of a philosophy or declaration, but also to the establishment of a system that leads to improvements in the breeding environment and management through the specificity of policies, implementation status, scope of application to the supply chain, risk management, and level of information disclosure. Animal welfare responses are also connected to social sustainability, and this assessment is also a framework for identifying their social impact.
FARMWISE Impact 2026 is not intended to be a simple ranking. It is intended to visualize the achievement, challenges, and structural gaps of Japanese companies in comparison to internationally required animal welfare standards.

comments from the experts

The report appears to be impartial in that it relies primarily on the publicly available documents of each company for its evaluation. It may not be very pleasant for the companies being evaluated to have their business activities publicized side-by-side. However, for companies that are working hard, having their efforts visualized and evaluated would be a further encouragement. Above all, it will be a very useful data for consumers (the public). Many companies and organizations will be able to recognize the progress of livestock AW’s efforts by saying, “We have this kind of data, too. ＜Excerpts from comments

Shigeru Ohki Professor

Laboratory of Animal Resource Economics, Department of Animal Applied Science, Azabu University

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We can use the results of this survey not only to criticize companies, but also to support their steady improvement by choosing better companies to purchase, invest, and work for. By selecting the best companies in the field of animal welfare, we will increase the number of such companies, thereby improving the level of animal welfare in the industry and in society. It is my great hope that information from initiatives such as this one will encourage buyers, investors, and workers to support the actions of companies and industries, thereby creating a virtuous cycle that will lead to a sustainable social economy.

Professor Takeshi Ito

Professor, Osaka University Doctor of Business Administration Social Solutions Initiative (SSI)

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Evaluation Summary: Trends and Analysis

From a partial response to a company-wide strategy. From domestic standards to international standards. In the future, Japanese companies will be required to make structural and continuous improvements in order to fulfill their responsibilities to the international community.

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survey method

We surveyed public information about companies. Public information includes a company’s website, reports, annual reports, investor relations information, press articles, answers to public questions (e.g., interviews), and product information.
Based on the publicly available information, we can accept offers of correction from companies.
In addition, a unique survey item unique to the Animal Rights Center is the addition of whether or not the company engages with stakeholders regarding animal welfare. We evaluate the presence or absence of engagement with the Association along with companies that have publicly announced that they are engaged.

questionnaire

There are 16 survey items.
Five questions as overall policy for animal welfare of livestock and fishery products, eight questions as procurement policy and practice for switching animal materials coming from closed confinement and intensive systems, three questions as policy and practice for switching from animal materials, and one question as governance.
If foie gras is handled, it will be evaluated as risky and points will be deducted.
The questionnaire has been designed to shed light on the initial efforts of companies in light of Japan’s overall lag, while keeping an eye on globally recognized standards.

View the survey form

Background to the Survey

In 2016, the Animal Rights Center joined the Citizens’ Network for a Sustainable Society through Consumption (SSRC), which surveys seven areas of sustainability systems, consumer protection and support, human rights and labor, social and social contribution, peace and non-violence, animal welfare, and the environment by organizations specializing in each field I have been involved in the “Corporate Ethical Report” for 10 years, and have realized the importance of corporate surveys from the perspective of citizens.
Now that corporate animal welfare initiatives in Japan have made a start and actual efforts have begun, we felt that there was a need for a place to visualize these initiatives.

Although the metrics for evaluating animal welfare are inherently clear, they are still difficult for citizens and institutional investors to decipher. It is part of our mission as an NGO to communicate in an easy-to-understand manner.

The world’s standards for animal welfare assessment (BBFAW, etc.) are based on European standards, and there are some assessment items that are difficult to address in Japan due to the underdeveloped technological introduction, as well as cultural differences such as the limitation of fish species.

Coming Soon : Differences from BBFAW Survey

For these main reasons, we have begun researching more companies with a special focus on the livestock and aquatic animal sector.

Target Company

The companies evaluated in FARMWISE Impact 2026 (107 companies) consist mainly of companies that handle or are involved in the distribution of livestock products, marine products, eggs, and alternative proteins in the Japanese market.

This evaluation is based on a group of companies with high impact from the perspective of promoting changes in corporate behavior in Japan. It is not a random selection for the purpose of statistical representativeness.

Target companies are not fixed, but will be added and reviewed in phases in the future for each sector such as restaurants, retail, hotels, food manufacturing, and trading companies.

Disclaimer: Please read this before using the site and data.

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