Dr. Hans Coetzee Awarded the 2025 NAS Prize in Food & Agriculture Sciences
Pain management is a critical component of ensuring animal welfare in livestock production systems. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is awarding Dr. Hans Coetzee of Kansas State University the 2025 NAS Prize in Food & Agriculture Sciences for his groundbreaking research on safe and cost-effective pain management practices in livestock, which have transformed animal welfare.
The NAS Prize, endowed by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is awarded annually to a mid-career scientist at a U.S. institution making an extraordinary contribution to agriculture or to the understanding of the biology of a species fundamentally important to agriculture or food production. The Prize includes a medal and a $100,000 award.
Dr. Coetzee’s extensive body of work includes developing innovative, objective methods to quantify pain in food-producing animals, including beef and dairy cattle, sheep and swine. He has created validated models that use physiological, behavioral and neuroendocrine markers to evaluate pharmaceutical products for managing pain during routine livestock procedures. His groundbreaking research has led to the approval of the first analgesic, or painkiller, drug for use in livestock and has driven new animal care standards, improved health outcomes and reduced antibiotic use.
“Livestock play a vital role in global food systems, and ensuring their welfare is essential to producing healthy, sustainable food,” said Dr. Saharah Moon Chapotin, FFAR’s executive director. “Dr. Coetzee’s pioneering research on pain management has led to meaningful changes in animal care practices and policies, improving livestock health and advancing sustainable agriculture. FFAR congratulates him on this prestigious prize.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Dr. Coetzee. “This recognition underscores the critical importance of pain management in animal agriculture. By improving animal welfare, we not only enhance the quality of life for livestock but also contribute to a more sustainable and ethical food system.”
[Source: FFAR 23 January 2025]