Ahead of the EU Livestock Strategy expected in June 2026, the European Commission continues to promote a reassuring message: that Europe’s animal farming sector is becoming “greener”. The evidence suggests otherwise. The Commission has opened public consultation on its upcoming strategy for animal farming, and we have shared our views.
The science is clear. Emissions from the sector have not decreased. Production remains intensive, animal numbers remain high, and the environmental costs are still passed on to society. Efficiency improvements have not delivered real reductions. Instead, they have helped maintain the current system.
This system drives climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, nutrient pollution, and deforestation linked to imported feed. Without reducing production levels, Europe cannot achieve a truly sustainable food system.
Animal welfare tells a similar story. Despite scientific advances, legislation has failed to keep pace and continues to allow widespread suffering. High stocking densities, confinement, routine mutilations, and breeding for extreme productivity create serious welfare problems. These harms are not isolated cases; they are built into the system. They also increase disease risks and antimicrobial use, creating direct challenges for public health.
The conclusion is clear: small improvements are not enough. A credible EU Livestock Strategy must address the root causes of the problem. It must consider production levels, animal densities, farming systems, and consumption patterns while aligning policy with scientific evidence.
Anything less is not a real transition. It is simply a way to avoid confronting the scale of the challenge.
