Original Studies
Our original studies are carefully selected, designed, and conducted to provide actionable and insightful data for the animal protection movement.
Upcoming Projects
If you’d like to support any of these projects, pleasedonate now orcontact us to learn more.
How International Organizations Affect Factory Farming In Low- and Middle-Income Countries
We will investigate the various ways that the policies of international organizations such as the World Bank and World Trade Organization affect the proliferation of factory farming in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Results will focus on the goals of international development organizations, the impacts on LMICs, the role governments in LMICs play, and the potential for alternative policy approaches. This research project aims to provide foundational information that can help animal advocates limit the spread of industrial animal agriculture around the world.
Public Perceptions Of Standard U.S. Farming Practices
Legal advocates in the U.S. use litigation to create positive change for farmed animals by challenging companies on animal abuse. Some states have anti-cruelty laws that permit "commonly accepted" practices, often allowing factory farms to escape penalties. However, if the public finds these practices unacceptable, they can be legally contested. While data exists on the acceptability of eating animals, there's a lack of current information on the acceptability of standard farming practices. Understanding public perception of these practices could aid legal advocates in arguing against cruel "common" practices. Therefore, a poll will be conducted among U.S. adults to assess their views, which could inform legal strategies to reduce farmed animal abuse.
Contextual Advocacy For Food Systems In The Global South
This exploratory study forms the first stage of a broader project to improve the cultural and strategic alignment of animal advocacy efforts across the Global South. Advocacy aimed at food system transformation often relies on global narratives around climate change, sustainability, farmed animal welfare, and health, which may not resonate with local contexts. This research seeks to bridge the gap by developing a practical framework that helps advocates and funders identify and integrate key contextual factors into campaign design. The project will begin with India as a pilot site, with potential for future replication in other countries.
Going Vegan: How Common Is It?
Despite growing cultural and media attention to vegetarianism, veganism, and other types of meat-reduction diets (e.g., “flexitarianism”), the true global prevalence and growth rate of veganism and related diets remain unclear. There is a pressing need for a synthesis of global data to help pinpoint whether veganism is rising, stable, or plateauing in different regions of the world. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing global data on the prevalence and trends of veganism and related diets. The findings and accompanying interactive infographics produced by this project will be important for informing and guiding animal advocacy strategies and can be used to pinpoint areas where more data and investigation are needed.
Understanding How India’s Gen Z Shapes Family Food Choices
India’s Generation Z (born roughly between 1997–2012) represents a rapidly growing segment with distinct values, lifestyles, and purchasing behaviors compared to their parents. As this cohort becomes more financially independent and digitally empowered, they are also becoming key influencers in household decisions, including what foods are stocked in the refrigerator. This study seeks to understand the evolving power dynamics within Indian families: what do Gen Z eat, what do they value when it comes to food choices, and how do their behaviors and values influence their parents’ choices and household consumption patterns? Ultimately, this study will provide actionable insights into how advocacy groups can leverage Gen Z’s growing role as household tastemakers to accelerate the adoption of plant-based foods in India.
Public Understanding of "Factory Farming"
Animal advocates in the United States commonly use the term “factory farming” to describe industrial animal agriculture while the industry tends to use other terms instead (e.g., “feedlot”, “farm”, "concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO)", etc.). Given that animal advocacy groups commonly use “factory farming” to refer to a specific context that is extremely harmful to animals and the environment, this study aims to assess whether the general public understands the term "factory farming" in the same way animal advocates do, and if it's more effective than alternative terms. It will also determine if the public perceives this term negatively or positively across different demographic groups. This study will help us better understand whether pervasive use of certain terms would change the public's general concern for farmed animal welfare, for better or for worse, and can directly inform communications and messaging strategies for animal advocates.
Co-Creating a Research Agenda to Improve Evidence-Based Strategies in China (in collaboration with Good Growth)
China plays a pivotal role in global animal welfare progress, but effective advocacy pathways remain insufficiently mapped. This project aims to bring advocates and researchers together in Chinese and English to co‑set a clear, actionable research agenda and to make sure findings are relevant, credible, and easy to use. We will work closely with animal advocates in China to learn what questions matter most to them and what kind of research is useful in their everyday work. We’ll focus on local realities and produce research questions that ensure any future research (by Faunalytics or other research organisations) will get used and lead to better advocacy results for animals. Importantly, this project is designed as a potential model for replication in other countries or regions, particularly in areas where there is currently limited knowledge of stakeholder needs, such as the Global South. By systematically documenting and refining the process, Faunalytics and Good Growth aim to enable future participatory research prioritisation efforts that are context-sensitive and stakeholder-driven across diverse geographies.
Testing The Short-Term & Long-Term Impact Of Different Approaches To Advocacy
Our previous study,Planting Seeds: The Impact Of Diet & Different Animal Advocacy Tactics, compared the short- term impact of ten animal advocacy tactics on people’s behaviors and attitudes towards farmed animals, including animal product consumption. This follow-up experiment will assess the short-term (two weeks) and long-term (three months) impact of a wide variety of animal advocacy tactics on a wide variety of key outcomes including dietary change, information seeking, consumer choices, advocacy engagement, and moral concern for animals. The study aims to provide a deeper understanding of which advocacy approaches create sustained positive effects.
Brazilian Voters’ Response To Pro-Animal Candidates
Elected officials have the power to institute policies that can benefit huge numbers of animals. However, many politicians may be hesitant to talk about issues that affect animals for fear of electoral blowback. In a follow-up to our study ofU.S. voters, this research will explore how hypothetical political candidates can effectively discuss animal welfare and farming subsidies in Brazil to gain popular voter support. It will provide insights into how pro-animal messages resonate with Brazilian voters, helping advocates tailor their outreach in this high-impact region.
Donate to Faunalytics today
Support Our Work
Your donation saves animals and empowers advocates
