She will be based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and report to Dr Mike Siemens, Cargill's head of animal welfare based in Wichita, Kansas.

Dr Cottee's appointment is effective immediately.

“Stephanie is well-respected as an animal welfare professional and she has a wealth of experience and knowledge that will be valued by Cargill’s poultry businesses and our customers around the world,” said D. Siemens.

“Producing animal protein to meet ever-increasing global consumption is more complex each day and stakeholders ranging from consumers to customers, employees and others are more interested than ever before about how animals are raised and harvested for food.

“We are known as a leader in animal welfare and our reputation took a large step forward with Stephanie joining the Cargill team.”

Cargill has chicken businesses in Canada, Thailand, China, Europe and Central America, a turkey business in the US and an egg business in the US.

“People should have the choice to consume meat and egg products and we want to ensure the animals that provide that type of nutrition are raised with care and properly handled and harvested,” said Dr Cottee.

“With billions of additional people joining the middle class around the world over the next few decades, demand for nutritious forms of complex animal protein will continue to increase globally, and the ethics associated with doing things the right way are important to Cargill and important to me.”

Before joining Cargill, Dr Cottee held positions of responsibility for animal welfare with Maple Leaf Foods, Ontario Pork, Chicken Farmers of Ontario, National Farm Animal Care Council and she has taught at the University of Guelph.