Ahead of the EU Livestock Strategy expected in June 2026, the European Commission continues to promote a reassuring narrative: that animal farming sector in Europe is on a “greening” path. It isn’t. The Commission opened a public consultation on its upcoming strategy for animal farming, and AAFT shared their views.
The science is clear. Emissions from the sector have stagnated, not declined. Production remains intensive, animal numbers are really high, associated suffering is immense and environmental costs are still offloaded onto society. Efficiency gains have not delivered absolute reductions. Instead, they have simply sustained the system.
This system is a major driver of climate change, biodiversity loss, air and nutrient pollution, and deforestation through imported feed. As long as production volumes remain unchanged, there is no credible pathway to sustainability.
Animal welfare tells the same story. Despite scientific progress, legislation lags behind and drives unbearable suffering. High densities, confinement, routine mutilations and genetic selection for extreme productivity continue to cause systemic suffering. These harms are not incidental, they are systemic. These conditions also fuel disease risks and antimicrobial use, with very direct consequences for public health.
The conclusion is unavoidable: incremental improvements are not enough. A credible EU Livestock Strategy must address structural drivers, production volumes, animal densities, system design, and consumption patterns, and align policy with scientific evidence.
Anything less is not a transition but an effort to avoid addressing the problem.