One Welfare: A boundary object to engage scientists and stakeholders towards a common goal of animal welfare, human well-being, and environmental respect in livestock farming

Abstract

Written as part of the One Welfare Mixed Technology Network, the present article explores the representations and implementation of a One Welfare approach through various perspectives: in the literature, by livestock professionals, through conceptual modelling or concrete examples in the pork and poultry sectors, or during educational experiences. One Welfare is a boundary object whose approach brings together actors from different disciplines and institutions with a common goal: to integrate animal welfare, human welfare, and respect for the environment. This article analyses how different studies succeed or fail in integrating the interdependence between these three components. A literature review reveals that the interdependencies between animal and human welfare are increasingly studied, but interactions with the environmental dimension remain marginal. Several models are presented to facilitate dialogue between actors, using graphical representations to simplify the understanding and management of complex systems. Multi-entry approaches on real cases illustrate the search for operational solutions. The educational experiences described promote participation and reflection among learners, which are essential for the development of their projects in a changing world. The expected skills of livestock actors are crucial to meet current challenges. Across all these approaches, One Welfare is seen as a challenge requiring interdisciplinary collaboration to avoid working in silos and to meet societal expectations regarding sustainable agriculture, respect for animals, humans, and the environment.