How to secure a sustainable future for the EU livestock sector in light of the need to ensure food security, farmers’ resilience and the challenges posed by animal diseases?

‘Notes that maintaining a thriving, sustainable and resilient livestock sector in the EU will benefit global food security, strengthen the EU’s food sovereignty and economic growth and contribute to balanced and diverse European diets’

‘through the consumption of animal-based products of high nutritional quality that are a unique source of several micronutrients and bioactive compounds, the nutritional value of which cannot be adequately replaced by plant or artificial alternatives and should be acknowledged when drafting evidence-based dietary guidelines;’

‘Notes that the FAO’s 2023 report entitled “Contribution of terrestrial animal source foods to healthy diets for improved nutrition and health outcomes” highlights the role of animal-based foods in providing high-quality protein and essential micronutrients that may be lacking in plant-based diets;’

‘stresses that these foods are vital for children, teenagers, pregnant and lactating women, women of reproductive age, older people, and people living with chronic diseases, and that they could be difficult to replace with plant-based alternatives;’

‘Welcomes the Commission’s presentation of the EU bioeconomy strategy; invites the Commission to recognise the role of innovative livestock farming in promoting circularity and to fully unlock the potential of energy production, particularly biogas and biomethane, the use of digestate as a bio-based fertiliser and the valorisation of livestock by-products through the rendering sector to provide additional sources of income for livestock farmers;’

‘underlines that livestock dense areas in particular play an important role in the bioeconomy, as their proximity to urban areas and short distances enable circular cooperation in upscaling human waste streams and the processing of farm waste streams;’

‘Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a targeted revision of the Nitrates Directive to allow the use of RENURE fertilisers above the limit set for the application of manure and to align it with the latest scientific evidence and innovative fertilisation practices, including the use of manure so as to promote circular nutrient management while continuing to protect water quality;’

‘Underlines the importance of transparent, accessible and evidence-based scientific communication to counteract misinformation and ideological bias in public debates on livestock and meat production and consumption;’ without the words ‘to counteract misinformation and ideological bias in public debates’

‘Urges policymakers at all levels to uphold evidence-based standards in the development of dietary guidelines, fully recognising the nutritional, cultural and economic importance of meat, dairy and eggs,’ without the word ‘cultural’

‘warns against the uncritical promotion of nutritionally and environmentally inadequate food substitutes as replacements for traditional animal-sourced foods, including those that do not provide the same bioactive compounds or essential micronutrients found in natural meat from healthy animals reared in high-quality systems, and especially warns against their inclusion in food baskets for children and young people in schools;’

‘Expresses deep concern about the increasing drive to promote synthetic foods, such as lab-grown proteins, without there being conclusive scientific evidence regarding their safety, industrial viability and environmental benefits;’

‘underlines the need to conduct proper impact assessments based on scientific evidence, taking into account all aspects related to safety, environmental impact, market implications and consumer protection before proposing any new regulatory framework for emerging food technologies,’

‘Emphasises the ecological role of ruminants and the nutritional value of natural meat, and stresses that synthetic food production is greatly dependent on highly industrialised, energy-intensive processes that require significant levels of chemical inputs, which is at odds with the principles of sustainability advocated by the EU; points out that, to date, synthetic food has neither been a viable solution nor a safe alternative to traditional agriculture and livestock production, and that its promotion could endanger thousands of family farms;’

‘calls on the Commission to undertake rigorous and independent assessments of synthetic food products as regards health, environmental and socioeconomic impacts, together with consumer protection concerns and impacts on traditional agriculture and livestock production; calls for the existing regulatory frameworks to be clearly focused on protecting consumers, European producers and rural areas;’