When Systems Fail

With millions of birds culled due to avian flu outbreaks across North America this year, the vulnerability of industrial poultry farming has been laid bare once again. But among Certified Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) by AGW farms—certified for their high-welfare, pasture-based practices—the story is very different.

To date, AGW has recorded only one Certified AWA poultry farm that had to depopulate due to avian influenza—and that was over four years ago. Despite being near outbreak zones in recent years, none of the certified farms have tested positive or been forced to cull birds. This isn’t luck: it’s a result of deliberate, science-based practices rooted in smaller-scale, pasture-based systems.

Disproportionate impact

In contrast to industrial operations that crowd tens of thousands of birds into confinement, AWA farms offer space, sunlight, and the ability for animals to express natural behaviors—factors that bolster immune function and reduce stress. Birds raised in high-welfare systems with access to pasture and sunlight are healthier and more resilient. Pathogen load is lower, foraging supplements their diet, and natural behaviors support immune function.

That said, we caution against complacency. Avian flu remains an active biosecurity threat and all farms—regardless of system—must maintain rigorous disease prevention protocols. These include limiting exposure to wildlife, maintaining clean clothing and equipment, and monitoring state and federal outbreak alerts. The majority of AWA farmers remain highly vigilant, especially during periods of heightened risk.

The disproportionate impact of avian flu on industrial farms is no coincidence. The increasing consolidation of poultry operations since the 1970s is a key driver. Today’s industrial broiler farms house 40,000 to 50,000 birds per barn. Many sites run a dozen or more barns. One recent outbreak at a single layer facility in North Carolina affected over 3 million birds. With hatcheries, feed mills, and slaughterhouses also concentrated in the same regions, disease can spread rapidly and impact entire supply chains.

Delocalized production

Diversified poultry systems may offer part of the solution. Just as the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the fragility of centralized meat processing, avian flu highlights the importance of decentralizing food production. Smaller farms with localized infrastructure can continue to operate even when one part of the system fails, improving resilience across the board.

Ultimately, AGW sees the solution not just in different farming practices, but in a reimagined food system—one built on integrity, transparency, and a commitment to the health of animals, people, and the planet. As the crisis continues, we must ask: Is the real threat the virus—or the system that helps it spread?

Author: Tim Holmes, Compliance Director at A Greener World

Originally published in the Summer 2025 issue of AGW’s Sustainable Farming magazine.