European Commission adopts new livestock and protein strategies

The European Commission has adopted the ‘European Livestock Strategy’ and the ‘Protein Action Plan’ to address food security and economic stability. These initiatives follow recent global disruptions, including the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which highlighted the strategic importance of food sovereignty.

The livestock sector is a major economic driver in Europe, accounting for approximately 40% of agricultural value-added and generating 400 billion euros in annual turnover. It supports seven million jobs across four million farms. However, the sector has faced declines in livestock numbers since 2005, including a 10% drop in cattle, 15% in swine, and 25% in sheep and goats. The new strategy aims to balance competitiveness and sustainability with territorial cohesion.