The annual award to innovative developments in animal welfare is made jointly by the RSPCA and BSAS. The award will be presented to the person or groups whose work has done the most to promote the cause of farm animal welfare. The judges will, in particular, be looking for advancement in providing one or more the following freedoms:
The award will take the form of a cash prize of £100 together with a trophy to be retained by the winner. Nominations to be received by the BSAS CEO before 31 October
Previous recipients of the award are as follows:
| 2011 | Malcom Mitchell Peter Kettlewell | Scottish Agric College UK Animal Transport consultant | In recognition of the significant impact their work on live animal transport has made to the understanding and promotion of good animal welfare |
| 2010 | Rachel Casey | University of Bristol, UK | For her outstanding contribution and commitment to improving companion animal welfare, particularly in the area of training techniques used to modify the behaviour of dogs |
| 2009 | Prof Paul McGreevy | University of Sidney, Australia | For significant contributions to research in horse and dog behaviour |
| 2008 | Mohan Raj | University of Bristol, UK | For his outstanding contribution and commitment to farm animal welfare science, particularly in the area of stunning, slaughter and killing |
| 2007 | Françoise Wemelsfelder | Scottish Agricultural College, UK | For her outstanding contribution to the assessment of animal welfare through innovative research and development of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment methodology |
| 2006 | AW Training | University of Bristol, UK | For outstanding contributions to scientific research, information trasfer and training in the area of farm animal welfare at stunning and slaughter |
| 2005 | Humane Slaughter Association | For its outstanding contribution to animal welfare through promoting humane methods of slaughter and reforms in livestock markets and transportation | |
| 2004 | Steve C Kestin BSc PhD | For his outstanding contribution to farm animal welfare through innovative research, particularly in the areas of broiler health and welfare, and slaughter in fish | |
2003 | Professor David Fraser BA PhD | For his outstanding contribution to the science philosophy and practice of animal welfare | |
| 2002 | Temple Grandin BA, MS, PhD | For her outstanding contribution to raising welfare standards for livestock during handling and transport | |
| 2001 | Professor Donald M Broom MA PhD Cantab Hon DSc | For his research, teaching and writing on animal welfare and for his contribution to raising welfare standards through European and UK legislation | |
| 2000 | Mr David C Henderson NCA, BVM&S, MRCVS | For his outstanding contribution to farm animal welfare through research, communication with the farming industry, particularly on lamb survival and sheep lameness, the management of research animals and facilities, and service to advisory organisations on animal welfare | |
| 1999 | Dr Sandra A Edwards MA PhD | For her outstanding contribution to scientific research in animal welfare, particularly her multi-disciplinary approach to improving the well-being of pigs | |
| 1998 | Peter R English BSc, NDA, PhD | For his outstanding contribution to the scientific study of farm animal welfare in the areas of devising improved methods of animal care and the training and motivation of stock-keepers | |
| 1997 | Miriam Parker | For her outstanding contribution to improving the welfare of farm animals at markets, during transport and slaughter | |
| 1996 | Dr Paul Hemsworth | For his outstanding contribution to animal welfare research | |
| 1995 | Dr Alistair B Lawrence | For his outstanding contribution to animal welfare research | |
| 1994 | Prof Piet Wiepkema | For his outstanding contribution, through research and teaching, to farm animal behaviour and welfare and for his work in the developments of theoretical concepts of stress perception | |
| 1993 | Dr Ian J H Duncan | For his contribution and commitment to improving the welfare of poutlry through research and teaching | |
| 1992 | Professor A J F Webster | For his contribution and commitment to improving the welfare of farm animals through research and teaching | |
| 1991 | Dr Marian Stamp-Dawkins | ||
| 1990 | Dr Neville Gregory | For his contribution to the understanding of the science of the preslaughter stunning of animals and its application to the improvement of farm animal welfare | |
| 1989 | Professor David Wood-Gush |