Today (16 November), we held the first in-person Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards  at a ceremony in Bangkok, celebrating the achievements of food companies across Asia that are making strides towards improved animal welfare in their supply chains.

In total, 19 awards were presented across three countries: Thailand, Japan and China. The majority (16 awards), focused on cage-free eggs and higher welfare broiler production, and together these alone are set to benefit the lives of over 25 million animals. The three additional trophies were presented to our 2022 Good Pig Production Award winners from China.

Overall, there was one Good Chicken Award presented to a Thai company, a first for the country. Eight companies (three Japanese and five Chinese) earned Good Egg Awards, while six Good Chicken Production Awards, one Good Egg Production Award, and three Good Pig Production Awards were presented to companies from China.

Thailand Good Chicken Award

Klong Phai Farm, was the first Thai-based company to receive a Good Chicken Award. Acknowledging its dedication to animal welfare and product quality, the company sources free-range chicken and pays its farmers more than the usual market rates. These practices not only support the farming community but also promote ethical and sustainable farming methods.

Celebrating Cage-Free Eggs in Japan

One of this year’s Japanese Good Egg Award winners, Second Arrow Co., Ltd. and its Toritama Restaurant brand, primarily manages dining establishments and recognises higher animal welfare as a means to providing tastier ingredients.

The other two Japanese companies to receive Good Egg Awards included Nagomi Tamago by Miyamoto Poultry Farm and Fuku-ga-kita by Asagiri Takarayama Farm, a subsidiary of Marufuku Co., Ltd.

Continued progress in China

Compassion’s awards programme in China began in 2014 working with the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW) when they first introduced the Good Pig Production Awards, followed by the Good Egg and Good Chicken Production Awards. These awards reflect the efforts made in the breeding, housing, rearing and health management of the animals and are based on criteria that equate to stars, with five stars being the highest number achievable.

This year there were six Good Chicken Production Awards, one Good Egg Production Award and three Good Pig Production Awards.

Amongst the Good Chicken Production Award winners, three were five-star winners (Hangzhou Yiyuanjia Agricultural Development Co Ltd, Taihe Yifang Pure Land Agriculture and Forestry Co and Sichuan Xinde Agriculture Co Ltd). Good Egg Production Award Winner, Sichuan Xinde Agriculture Co Ltd earned a five-star rating, just as it did for its Good Chicken Production Award.

Of the three Good Pig Production Award winners, one earned a five-star rating (Thunder Pig Chessboard Village Base).

Five companies from China also received Good Egg Awards for supporting cage-free production, including: Beijing Kaicheng Agriculture Co Ltd, Taihe Aoxin Silky Chicken Development Co Ltd, Shanghai Song Dan Xia Network Co Ltd, Anhui Xiansen Green Food Co Ltd, and Shaoguan Tudama Agricultural Development Co Ltd.

Dr Tracey Jones, Global Director for Food Business at Compassion in World Farming said: “The scope and range of the awards presented, not least our very first Thai Good Chicken Award, shows how enthusiasm for higher welfare is spreading across the region in key countries like Japan and Thailand, and it’s wonderful to see continued progress in China. Congratulations to all our award winners.”