About Respectful Life
Respectful Life is an industry-led, science-based initiative that aims to improve the functioning and understanding of the international horse meat industry.
The project is a joint initiative between industry stakeholders, and researchers from the University of Ghent, Belgium. Respectful Life is supported and funded by actors across the value chain while the scientific work is conducted independently by academic researchers.
Our mission
Respectful life exists to:
Improve horse welfare through science-based research.
Researchers from the University of Ghent conduct independent research into the international equine meat supply chain. More concretely, the researchers identify objective, measurable parameters related to horse welfare, handling, transport and slaughter.
Research and monitoring are conducted through a mix of on-site audits and camera-based observation systems in slaughterhouses. These tools are designed to provide objective, verifiable information on how horses are handled in practice and to support continuous improvement based on evidence rather than common misconceptions.
Encourage best practices and knowledge sharing.
Respectful Life’s research covers the entire equine meat value chain, from collection and transport to slaughterhouses. The project is supported by industry stakeholders both across EU Member States (Belgium, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland) and from third countries (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay).
Respectful Life actively shares sector insights and best practices among its members as well as with other stakeholders across society.
Boost sector transparency.
Beyond research, Respectful Life contributes to improve transparency within the equine meat sector. The project’s findings are published in reports and scientific articles which are available to the public. The initiative also acts as a reliable source of information and as a conversation partner.
