Dr. List is a veterinarian and ethicist whose research interests include animal ethics, the ethics of food and agriculture, environmental ethics, and animal welfare, with a focus on the social and ethical dimensions of animal welfare science.
Synopsis:
Despite its exponential growth as an academic research area, and increasing presence in public discussions, farm animal welfare remains a low priority, especially when considered within the broader landscape of social and environmental justice. From a regulatory standpoint, the welfare of farm animals also remains a low priority in the United States, and considerations of welfare are often outweighed by the need to produce ever increasing amounts of cheap animal protein. Using the example of welfare standards for broiler chickens in the United States, this presentation addresses the tensions between social values and scientific objectivity in the development and application of animal welfare standards.