Search icon

Our story

dairy cows in open field blue sky

From humble origins...

Our founder Peter Roberts was an ordinary man with extraordinary vision.

For the first 40 years of his life, Peter led a fairly conventional life. Having earned an agricultural diploma, he settled down happily to dairy farming.

Peter Roberts campaigning for farm animal welfare
Peter Roberts campaigning for farm animal welfare.

However, Peter became increasingly troubled about the direction that post-war farming was heading. Appalled by the cages and crates that had started to become common-place, Peter took his concerns to the established animal charities of the day, but his calls for higher welfare went unheard.

In 1967, concerned at the growing disconnect between modern agriculture and the well-being of animals and the environment, Peter Roberts and his wife Anna founded Compassion in World Farming.

Starting as just a back room protest it grew into a powerful global movement, achieving profound and enduring advancements in farm animal welfare.

To discover more about Peter and his remarkable life you can visit the Peter Roberts Tribute Fund.

...to a global movement

Today, we are guardians of Peter’s visionary belief; that a society can be judged by the way in which it feeds its people and treats its animals.

We’re now a fast-growing and influential worldwide movement present at many key decision making forums from the United Nations to the World Trade Organisation. Our views are sought and valued by policy makers. We have supporters and partners throughout the world who help us deliver initiatives from China to the USA.

Support Better Dairy Campaign In Brussels

By working in partnership with inspirational supporters, progressive policy makers and visionary companies, we are mobilising a movement for far reaching change in our farming that can feed the world and will improve the quality of life for billions of farm animals worldwide.

We believe that everyone has the right to healthy food that doesn’t involve cruelty, doesn’t involve suffering and doesn’t destroy our planet.

Join us

Getting involved in the fight against factory farming couldn’t be easier. Simply sign up to receive email updates from Compassion in World Farming to hear about urgent campaign actions and other ways you can help end cruelty to farm animals.

Globe

You are using an outdated browser which we do not support. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.

If you have any further questions regarding this, or any other matter, please get in touch with us at supporters@ciwf.org.uk. We aim to respond to all queries within two working days. However, due to the high volume of correspondence that we receive, it may occasionally take a little longer. Please do bear with us if this is the case. Alternatively, if your query is urgent, you can contact our Supporter Engagement Team on +44 (0)1483 521 953 (lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).