{"id":127280,"date":"2026-07-08T09:54:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T07:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=127280"},"modified":"2026-07-08T09:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T07:54:51","slug":"eu-livestock-strategy-recognises-benefits-of-organic-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2026\/07\/08\/eu-livestock-strategy-recognises-benefits-of-organic-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Livestock Strategy recognises benefits of organic farming"},"content":{"rendered":"

IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes the recognition of\u00a0the benefits of\u00a0organic\u00a0livestock\u00a0farming\u00a0in the European Commission’s\u00a0EU Livestock Strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"livestock\"
123rf Limited\u00a9c-foto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The strategy rightly acknowledges that\u00a0organic livestock systems combine profitability with high environmental and animal welfare standards\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0that Member States should\u00a0therefore\u00a0continue supporting organic farming as a resilient business\u00a0model.\u00a0IFOAM Organics Europe also welcomes the\u00a0support for mobile slaughterhouses, which can strengthen local value chains,<\/strong>\u00a0improve animal welfare by reducing transport distances and increase the viability of livestock farming in rural areas.<\/p>\n

“Organic livestock farming demonstrates that high environmental and animal welfare standards can go hand in hand with economically viable farming, and the Commission rightly recognises this.\u00a0This is a step in the right direction\u00a0but\u00a0needs to be translated into\u00a0support\u00a0for\u00a0farmers on the ground\u00a0by\u00a0maintaining\u00a0and strengthening\u00a0organic conversion and maintenance\u00a0support\u00a0in the\u00a0CAP post-2027, alongside\u00a0a\u00a0dedicated and ring-fenced budget for\u00a0agri-environmental measures\u00a0including organic.\u201d,\u00a0said\u00a0D\u00f3ra Drexler, President of IFOAM Organics Europe.<\/p>\n

The overall direction of the Strategy remains overly focused on\u00a0technological solutions to make livestock production more efficient, instead of\u00a0supporting the transition to\u00a0farming systems that deliver environmental, climate and societal benefits.<\/strong>\u00a0IFOAM Organics Europe questions the strategy’s\u00a0expectations on \u201ccutting-edge\u00a0breeding\u201d\u00a0approaches as the resilience of European livestock will not be achieved through\u00a0genetic engineering\u00a0techniques.\u00a0IFOAM Organics Europe is also concerned that the strategy approaches\u00a0the climate impact and\u00a0methane emissions\u00a0of livestock\u00a0primarily through technological innovation,\u00a0breeding\u00a0programmes\u00a0and\u00a0metrics\u00a0that risk being\u00a0reductionist.\u00a0The organic sector calls on the European Commission\u00a0to\u00a0not weaken existing environmental safeguards, including through any reopening of the Nitrates Directive.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe future of EU\u00a0livestock\u00a0farming\u00a0cannot be built on efficiency gains,\u00a0and\u00a0resilience\u00a0needs\u00a0a transition towards\u00a0livestock production within ecological limits.\u00a0By closing nutrient cycles,\u00a0the\u00a0organic approach\u00a0reduces\u00a0dependency\u00a0on external inputs, decreases vulnerability to shocks\u00a0and strengthens resilience.\u00a0\u00a0Greater priority\u00a0and support\u00a0should be given to\u00a0farming systems that address emissions through circular nutrient management,\u00a0conserve\u00a0and promote\u00a0locally adapted breeds\u00a0and\u00a0align\u00a0stocking densities with the carrying capacity of the land”, said Eduardo Cuoco, Director of IFOAM Organics Europe.<\/p>\n

Finally,\u00a0IFOAM Organics Europe calls on the European Commission\u00a0to ensure\u00a0that\u00a0a\u00a0\u201cEuropean\u00a0excellence\u201d seal\u00a0does\u00a0not undermine existing quality schemes\u00a0established\u00a0under\u00a0EU legislation, such as organic.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n