Brussels Recasts Livestock as Strategic Asset

The European Commission has unveiled a new strategy for livestock production that marks a significant shift in how Brussels views farm animals, Politico reported.

Once seen mainly as a source of greenhouse gas emissions, livestock is now being treated as part of Europe’s strategic and critical infrastructure, essential to food security, competitiveness and resilience.

The Commission warns that declining livestock numbers could lead to the abandonment of farmland, particularly in eastern EU regions.

Rather than imposing new environmental restrictions, Brussels wants to support investment, technological innovation and financial incentives for farmers. The strategy also proposes a new way of measuring methane from livestock that takes its biological origin into account.

Environmental groups warn that the Commission is weakening pressure to cut emissions and ignoring the advice of its own climate advisers, who see reducing livestock numbers as essential to meeting climate goals.

(mja)