How to overcome barriers and activate key levers for a resilient and sustainable European livestock sector?
CEJA Young Farmers and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin co-hosted a science-policy roundtable in Brussels on 21 May 2025 as part of the ENFASYS project. Working under Chatham House rules, 30 participants from the farm sector, policy-making and science had an open and in-depth discussion about pathways for a more sustainable and resilient livestock sector in Europe, grounded in three case studies:
- 🌱Protein self-sufficiency in dairy farming in France
- 🐄Growing the organic dairy sector in Ireland
- 🐖Transforming the conventional pig farming value chain in Brandenburg, Germany
Here are some highlights from the discussions:
🤝Session 1: The human side of change: motivations, barriers, and skills for transition
- Many farmers feel caught between diverging societal expectations and volatile market signals.
- Often mental stress, isolation, and excessive workloads constrain innovation and risk-taking.
- Broader networks and holistic advisory systems are needed to empower farmers to engage in transformative change.
🏛️Session 2: Regulation: directionality from legislators and market actors
- The CAP direct payments prop up unimaginative and unsustainable business models, thereby impeding innovative young farmers; funds should shift to Pillar II measures which support innovation and sustainability.
- Robust and trustworthy indicators and monitoring systems which allow farmers to demonstrate their sustainability credentials are necessary to support transition pathways.
- In trade with non-EU countries, case-by-case mirror clauses could protect European farmers and the environment by discouraging imports produced under lower standards.
📈Session 3: Finance & incentives: investing in sustainability and rewarding best practices
- Sustainability-based business models such as organic dairy farming or straw-based pigs require investments while consumers’ willingness to pay is uncertain – fairer risk sharing along the value chain is needed.
- The accumulation of sustainability challenges in the livestock sector requires finance solutions that encourage investments in better delivery of public goods.
- Including leasing options in investment support and integrating agriculture in the green taxonomy could create new leverage for financing the transition towards more sustainable farming.
An open science-policy workshop on the findings from the ENFASYS project (including live-stock and other sectors) will take place in Brussels on 24 June from 9-13 CET.
You can register here: URL
We look forward to continuing the dialogue on pathways for a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Europe!
