Introduction
Livestock farming remains an essential component of global food systems, rural economies and environmental management. While public debate often focuses narrowly on greenhouse gas emissions, recent strategic discussions at European and international level offer a broader and more balanced perspective.
Policy frameworks developed by the European Commission (EU), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Animal Task Force (ATF) converge on a shared understanding: livestock systems are multifunctional assets within sustainable and resilient food systems. Livestock farming must be evaluated not only for what it produces, but for how it contributes to nutrition, ecosystem services, food and feed safety, and strategic autonomy.
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How does livestock farming contribute to food and nutrition security?
Livestock products provide highly bioavailable protein and essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc and vitamin B12. These nutrients are particularly important for children, pregnant women and elderly populations. Animal-source foods remain among the most efficient carriers of these nutrients, contributing directly to balanced and diverse diets.
Beyond direct human nutrition, livestock farming enhances food security through resilience. Ruminants transform grasslands, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products into nutrient-dense food, converting biomass that humans cannot digest into valuable outputs. This capacity is especially relevant in marginal areas where cropping is not feasible. In mountainous or semi-arid regions, grazing livestock often represents the only viable agricultural activity.
Integrated crop-livestock systems diversify farm income and reduce exposure to climatic and market shocks. In a context of increasing climate variability and geopolitical instability, diversified farming systems that include livestock have greater adaptive capacity and stability.
How does livestock farming support rural economies and landscapes?
Modern livestock farming delivers economic, environmental and social value. It sustains employment across value chains and maintains agricultural activity in remote and less-favoured areas. In many European regions, livestock farming is essential to the maintenance of cultural landscapes and preservation of traditional land management practices.
Livestock farming systems have to be assessed through a multifunctional lens. Grazing animals contribute to biodiversity maintenance and landscape management, including the reduction of rural fire risks in Mediterranean areas. Without livestock, many grasslands would face abandonment, leading to ecological degradation and socio-economic decline.
This broader framing encourages evaluation of livestock farming not solely on emissions, and other negative externalities, but on its comprehensive contribution to territorial cohesion and environmental stewardship, taking into account positive externalities and trade-offs.
How does livestock farming support the circular bioeconomy and resource efficiency?
The circular bioeconomy approach promoted by FAO highlights livestock as biological recyclers within agri-food systems. Animals close nutrient cycles by converting crop residues and food industry co-products into high-value food, while manure returns nutrients to soils.
When properly managed, integrated crop-livestock systems improve soil fertility, enhance nutrient cycling and reduce dependency on synthetic fertilizers. Grassland-based systems can also support carbon sequestration when grazing practices are optimized.
This perspective reframes livestock from being a competitor for resources to being an integrator within sustainable agricultural systems. By valorizing by-products and reducing waste, livestock farming contributes to enhancing overall system efficiency.
How do food and feed safety protect public health in livestock farming?
Food and feed safety are foundational pillars of sustainable livestock farming. The European regulatory framework, reinforced through the Vision for Agriculture & Food discussions led by the European Commission, is based on a comprehensive farm-to-fork approach.
Animal health management directly influences food safety outcomes. Effective biosecurity, vaccination strategies and veterinary surveillance reduce disease risks and contamination. Responsible antimicrobial use supports the One Health framework, linking animal, human and environmental health.
Feed safety is equally critical. Contaminants such as mycotoxins or heavy metals can compromise animal welfare and food integrity. Ensuring high feed standards protects public health and reinforces consumer confidence. In this sense, food and feed safety are not only regulatory obligations but strategic assets for the livestock sector.
How does livestock farming contribute to food security and geopolitical resilience?
Recent and current global disruptions have highlighted vulnerabilities in agricultural supply chains. Dependence on imported feed proteins exposes farmers to price instability and geopolitical risk.
Livestock systems integrated with local feed production and circular nutrient flows strengthen food security. Grazing systems, in particular, rely less on imported inputs and can maintain productivity under challenging conditions. At the same time, diversified livestock systems contribute to stability in times of uncertainty.
The sector supports not only food production but also the stability of rural economies and supply chains.
Why is feed autonomy important for strategic independence?
Feed autonomy has become a key strategic priority. Reducing reliance on imported soybean meal and strengthening domestic protein crop production will enhance resilience and sustainability.
Advances in precision nutrition and genetics improve feed conversion efficiency, reducing environmental footprint per unit of output. Strengthening feed autonomy supports rural economies while aligning with broader objectives of food sovereignty and environmental responsibility. Feed autonomy is not anymore viewed as isolationism, but as diversification and risk management. By optimizing local resources, livestock systems become more resilient and sustainable.
How will innovation support the future of livestock farming?
Research and Innovation play a key role in future of livestock systems. Current R&I priorities focus on climate adaptation, digitalization, precision feeding and improved manure management, as well as genetic resources and resilience. Climate-adapted breeds, drought-resistant forage species and digital traceability systems are becoming central components of modern livestock systems. Innovation enables reductions in emission intensity while maintaining productivity and animal welfare standards.
Continuous research and innovation are essential to ensure that livestock farming remains environmentally responsible, economically viable and socially accepted, while at the same time comply with food needs.
Take home messages
Livestock farming in current times is a strategic sector at the intersection of nutrition, ecology and resilience. It provides nutrient-dense food, sustains rural territories, contributes to circular bioeconomy models and strengthens food and feed security. Supported by rigorous safety frameworks and ongoing innovation, livestock systems remain essential to sustainable and resilient food futures.
The emerging consensus is clear: livestock are much more than food. They are integral to sustainable, multifunctional and future-proof agri-food systems, and essential to society.
References
Animal Task Force. (2024). A Vision Paper for a sustainable livestock sector in Europe [PDF]. DAFA. Note: Vision Paper accessible via ATF publications portal. https://www.dafa.de/wp-content/uploads/ATF_Vision-Paper_2024.pdf
Animal Task Force. (2025). Livestock are more than food: A policy brief. Animal Task Force. https://animaltaskforce.eu/2025/06/03/atf-policy-brief-livestock-are-more-than-food/
Bilotto, F., Harrison, M. T., Vibart, R., Mackay, A., Christie-Whitehead, K. M., Ferreira, C. S. S., Cottrell, R. S., Forster, D., & Chang, J. (2024). Towards resilient, inclusive, sustainable livestock farming systems. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 152, 104668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104668
European Commission. (2025). EU Livestock Workstream – Agriculture and Rural Development. European Commission. https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/committees-and-expert-groups/livestock-workstream_en
European Parliament. (2026). Livestock strategy including elements of animal welfare (Commission Work Programme reference). https://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/package-vision-for-agriculture-and-food/file-livestock-strategy
European Union – Vision for Agriculture & Food. European Commission. (2025). Vision for Agriculture and Food – Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations. European Commission. https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/overview-vision-agriculture-food/vision-agriculture-and-food_en
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2025). New guidelines on the role of livestock in circular bioeconomy systems. FAO LEAP Partnership. https://www.fao.org/partnerships/leap/news-and-events/news/detail/new-fao-leap-guidelines-highlight-livestock-s-role-in-circular-bioeconomy-and-sustainability/en
Meat The Facts. (2025). What does the ‘Vision for Agriculture and Food’ say about livestock? https://meatthefacts.eu/home/activity/beyond-the-headlines/what-does-the-vision-for-agriculture-and-food-say-about-livestock/
Santos, A. S. (2023, January 2). Why livestock farming is vital to economy and society. CEVA Ruminants Blog. https://ruminants.ceva.pro/livestock-farming
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