Sustainable livestock systems and nature restoration: building a shared pathway

As the European Commission prepares to publish its forthcoming EU Livestock Strategy, the event provided an important opportunity to examine how the sector can navigate growing environmental pressures while maintaining its economic and social viability. In a panel discussion with representatives from the European Commission’s DG AGRI, the European Environmental Agency and Irish young farmers, Blandine Camus, Food Systems Officer at IUCN, outlined how Europe can support transition to more sustainable practices.

Sustainable livestock systems require locally adapted solutions 
 

A key message from IUCN was that there is no one size fits all approach to sustainable livestock farming and that a set of different locally adapted practices can support the sector’s transition. Approaches to sustainable agriculture, such as mixed farming systems, extensive livestock systems, free-range, pasture-based livestock production, adapted livestock densities, agroecology principles such as the use of local breeds or agroforestry approaches like silvopastoralism can help to drive the sector towards more sustainability and should be more encouraged.

Furthermore, drawing on the IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, Blandine highlighted the growing relevance of Nature-based Solutions for agriculture. Being highly context-specific, Nature-based Solutions are adaptable to different realities of livestock farming across Europe. The Standard’s eight criteria provide a practical framework for ensuring that environmental outcomes are achieved alongside economic viability and inclusive governance. This makes Nature-based Solutions particularly well suited to addressing the interconnected environmental, social and economic challenges facing Europe’s livestock sector. 

Achieving coherence between policy frameworks 

Asked about the balance between livestock farming and nature restoration, IUCN emphasised that the challenge is not to choose between only food production or only ecosystems restoration, but to find a pathway that can deliver on both.

“Livestock farming and nature restoration can go hand in hand as long as sustainable practices are in place and respect ecological boundaries,” said Blandine Camus. “This calls for greater policy ambition and coherence in the future, notably through strong synergies in the implementation of the future Common Agriculture Policy and the Nature Restoration Regulation.” 

Drawing on the IUCN's support to France in the design of its national nature restoration plan, she highlighted several recommendations that are particularly relevant to the livestock sector. Those include conservation and restoration of permanent grasslands and a halt to its conversion into arable land, adapting livestock densities, promoting late mowing regimes and limiting the use of fertilisers. 

In this context, a systemic approach to food systems would bridge agricultural, biodiversity, climate and food policies, ensuring that farmers are supported through coordinated measures, targeted financing and practical incentives to implement sustainable practices.

Looking ahead, participants underlined the need for a science-based and more inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders. IUCN stands ready to continue contributing to this dialogue and helping identify sustainable practices that deliver lasting benefits for both people and the planet.