Green Halal: Ethical and Sustainable Farming in Russia

Abstract

This article examines the critical intersection of sustainability and halal ethics within Russia's rapidly growing meat and poultry sector, a region increasingly important for both domestic consumption and global export. Despite growing consumer confidence in halal as a sign of quality, a research gap exists regarding the specific mechanisms and challenges of integrating religiously-informed ethical mandates with contemporary environmental and social responsibility goals. Adopting a qualitative, descriptive research design, this study explores how halal principles influence production practices, animal welfare standards, supply-chain transparency, and broader sustainability efforts. Drawing on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders including producers, religious authorities, regulators (e.g., Roskachestvo), and consumer advocates—this paper identifies key tensions and synergies between the two frameworks. Key findings indicate that while halal certification inherently promotes certain aspects of ethical practice (e.g., animal welfare at slaughter, hygiene), challenges remain in standardizing these principles across the entire supply chain and aligning them with broader environmental metrics (e.g., carbon emissions, waste reduction). The study highlights specific areas where a lack of standardized certification procedures and potential "haram washing" can lead to consumer distrust. It concludes with policy recommendations and practical strategies to better align halal certification with environmental stewardship, enhanced animal welfare, and long-term market competitiveness in the Russian context.