The European Commission adopted the Livestock Strategy yesterday to ensure that the European livestock sector maintains its strength and long-term resilience. The Strategy, which is the first of its kind, establishes measures to help farmers face economic, environmental, and market challenges.
This long-term vision recognizes the valuable role of sustainable livestock farming in protecting the future food security of the European Union and supporting rural communities in all their diversity. The Livestock Strategy establishes five priorities: resilience to crises; competitiveness in global markets; sustainability; adaptability of all farms and regions; and excellence in production.
In greater detail, we will further develop those five priorities that the Brussels Executive has made public for immediate implementation.
- The European Commission aims to reduce risk exposure so that farmers can recover more quickly after a crisis. To achieve this, it will strengthen risk management instruments and explore a new insurance and reinsurance regime. It will also help Member States manage the repercussions of animal diseases by improving prevention, early detection, and early intervention. Investments in resilience to climate change and reducing dependencies on imports remain a key priority.
- The Commission will work to boost profitability and the adoption of innovation, as well as to strengthen competitiveness. In addition to the role of the future EU budget, the Commission will study how access to financing can facilitate the transition to cage-free systems and support permitting processes, circularity, bioeconomy, and biomass valorization. Furthermore, attention will be focused on fair incomes for farmers and ensuring international reciprocity. The Commission aims for greater harmonization of production standards, especially regarding animal welfare, in line with commitments made to the World Trade Organization. Efforts will also be intensified to promote new market opportunities through agri-food diplomacy.
- Given the diversity of livestock farming in different regions, the Strategy will promote an adapted approach to address the challenges of its sustainability. Measures are proposed to improve animal welfare through specific reviews for laying hens, broilers, and pigs, which will be based on verified data and accompanied by appropriate transition periods and financial support. Additionally, the EU will develop harmonized methods for calculating livestock emissions at the farm level, climate change mitigation practices, nutrient management, and sustainable resource circulation. Cooperation between farmers and producers will be strengthened.
- The Commission will collaborate with Member States on a plan to restore the adaptation of sustainable livestock production to vulnerable regions, particularly those at risk of abandonment. To this end, it will have the support of an Agricultural Land Observatory. The current line of work on livestock will develop a roadmap for mobile or low-capacity slaughterhouses, contributing to fostering locally integrated livestock value chains, reducing animal transport and regenerating local economies.
- Quality is Europe’s strategic asset, the Commission assures. “Quality,” it adds, “will give greater visibility and value to the excellence of EU production by strengthening origin labeling and recognizing quality.” A European excellence system will be developed, and sustainable EU livestock products will be promoted through specific promotion policies, geographical indications, ‘buy European products’ campaigns, and organic production systems.
The Livestock Strategy is accompanied by a Protein Action Plan. Together, these initiatives aim to reduce strategic dependencies, strengthen European food security, and contribute to a stronger, more resilient, and strategic European agri-food system. The Protein Action Plan also aims to increase the supply and use of proteins grown in the EU. By 2025,
The European Union only produced 25% of the oilseed and protein crops used for animal feed. The Plan aims to increase that percentage to 35% by 2035. The Commission will support European production of protein crops and improve the competitiveness of proteins grown in the EU. By recognizing the strong links that exist between food, feed, energy, and industry value chains, it will also promote innovation, investment, diversification of feed, and better monitoring of protein dependency.