Animal production systems

The livestock sector plays a significant economic and social role in EU with its 4.1 million livestock farming and a value of livestock production and livestock products equal to EUR 163 billion (36% of the total agricultural activity). Between 2010 and 2020, the number of livestock farming fell sharply, and moving towards a more sustainable livestock production systems is becoming more challenging. Climate change, a growing population, rising income and global demand for livestock-derived foods at global level will further increase the pressure on natural resources. Research and innovation play a key role in the sustainable transformation of the livestock sector. It tackles the various dimensions of resource use, looking at approaches at the level of animals and of agro-ecosystems and throughout value chains, embracing themes such as animal breeding and genomics, microbiomes, feeding, manure management, circularity, livestock systems diversification and animal welfare. An integrated approach to livestock systems needs to be further explored, taking into account the different components of the agricultural system as a whole and bringing together different perspectives on and dimensions of the value chain, including challenges (exposure to weather events, CO2 emission targets, food and nutrition security, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration) and societal expectations (animal health and welfare, more sustainable food choices).