Australia’s Meat And Dairy Sector Could Lose $3.2 Billion ‘Due To Animal Welfare Concerns’

Australia’s livestock sector could lose $3.2 billion by 2030 due to consumer’s rising concerns towards animal welfare, an industry expert has warned.

The comments were made by Jacqueline Baptista, Community Engagement Manager at Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) – at the Victorian Farmers Federation meeting last week.

‘Individual choice’

According to ABC News, Baptista said: “We can’t change what people choose to eat, whether they choose to eat vegetables, not vegetables, red meat or not red meat — that’s someone’s individual choice and we completely respect that.

“We do actually though, have a problem with activists’ activities. Farm raids are obviously a big problem for us.”

Baptista said farmers had spent ‘decades thinking this threat would go away’ – and said the only way to tackle the challenge of activists is to ‘talk honestly, proudly, and transparently’ about their businesses.

‘Increasing awareness’

Animal-rights charity Animal Liberation Victoria said in a statement: “The animal rights movement is young and is only getting stronger.

“With the ever-increasing availability of plant meat protein, as well as the increasing awareness of ethical issues in animal farming, and the destruction caused to our environment, the movement will no doubt continue to grow.”