What is the Animal Agriculture Alliance?
Established in 1987, the Animal Agriculture Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a broad based coalition of individual farmers, ranchers, producer organizations, suppliers, packer-processors, scientists, veterinarians and retailers. The Alliance with its members are interested in helping consumers better understand the role animal agriculture plays in providing a safe, abundant food supply to a hungry world. By speaking with a common voice, the Alliance will ensure consistent, accurate messages based on sound science are communicated to the general public.

Click here to learn who serves on our Board of Directors, 2012-2013.

Click here to see our 2011 Achievements Report (PDF, 801 KB).
Click here to see our 2010 Achievements Report (PDF, 397 KB).
Click here to see our 2009 Achievements Report (PDF, 452 KB).

What does the Alliance do to Support Animal Agriculture?
Efforts focus on bringing truthful, science-based information to consumers so the role of animal agriculture in feeding a hungry world is better understood and appreciated.

The Alliance:
educates consumers, teachers, and the media
serves as a resource for those who seek information about animal production
monitors emerging issues
mobilizes emergency response if a member requests assistance
promotes the development of animal care guidelines and third party verification programs that are consistent with the Alliance Animal Care Principles
conducts media and crisis management workshops upon request

The Alliance also works with animal producers to promote compliance with its 'Principles of Animal Care.'

What are the Principles of Animal Care?
To promote animal well-being and produce animal food products of the highest quality, the Animal Agriculture Alliance recommends adherence to the animal care principles that follow. These principles are the essential building blocks for professional animal care. Owners and managers of animal operations are committed to these principles.

The health and well-being of animals raised for food may be judged using science-based behavioral, physiological, biochemical, pathological criteria, and other characteristics. These criteria are all used to assess well-being; all have shortcomings when used individually. A combination of these criteria generally provides the best assessment of animal well-being.

Click here for more information about the Principles of Animal Care.

Why is the Alliance Important?
Consumers need accurate, science-based facts from legitimate sources in order to better understand animal agriculture's importance to their quality of life. Animal Agriculture deserves to have a strong, clear, truthful voice speaking on its behalf.

How is the Alliance Funded?
Founding members recognized the urgency of forming the Alliance and invested to ensure that agriculture's story is told properly. Funding for the Alliance includes support from livestock and poultry producers, individuals who make their living in animal agriculture, retailers, producer associations, feed and other input supplier companies, animal health companies, and consumers who want the truth based on sound science and the freedom of choice about their food.

Organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt national organization, the Animal Agriculture Alliance mobilizes support from livestock and poultry trade associations, individual animal producers, vertically integrated food companies, retailers, and the general public.

Why Does the Positive Story of Animal Agriculture Need to be Told?
The average American is now at least three generations removed from the farm and has become dependent on supermarkets and restaurants to supply almost all of their food needs. Because of the success of animal agriculture, the public has heard little with regard to animal well-being. The fact is that 'news' is generally made only when the news is negative. The story of how many people one producer can feed today or of how many people ate today without any food related illnesses just doesn't make headlines. The positive message of feeding the world safely and inexpensively doesn't sell papers or network advertising. Therefore, animal agriculture has often found itself on the defensive and must become proactive in order to make a real impact.

What is at Stake?
The very future of America's animal agriculture and those whose livelihood depends on it is in jeopardy. Also at stake for all consumers is the freedom to choose the foods they want to eat.