The Sustainable Livestock Production in the Context of the European Green Deal

EGD

Abstract

Climate change is one of the leading global environmental problems creating increasing pressure on natural resources, ecosystems, and food production systems. Following the industrial revolution, the increased use of fossil fuels, rapid population growth, urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, and the unsustainable use of natural resources have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide accelerate global warming and increase the frequency and severity of climate-related events. While the agricultural sector is responsible for approximately 12% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, this rate is around 14% in Türkiye. Livestock production is a strategic sector in terms of food security and rural development; however, it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through enteric fermentation, manure management, feed production, energy consumption, and waste generation. This study evaluated the relationship between sustainable livestock production and the European Green Deal by examining climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmentally friendly production approaches within the livestock sector. The evaluation indicated that methane emissions, decreasing pasture productivity, drought, increasing temperatures, and limited water resources threaten the sustainability of livestock production systems. In particular, the stronger impact of methane on global warming compared to carbon dioxide highlights the necessity of climate-friendly livestock practices. The European Green Deal, announced by the European Union in 2019, aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through environmentally sustainable production systems. Within this framework, sustainable pasture management, high-quality roughage production, efficient feed utilization, improved animal nutrition strategies, manure and waste management, renewable energy use, and increased resource-use efficiency have become important sustainability practices in livestock production. In addition, the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy aims to establish more sustainable, reliable, and environmentally friendly food production systems. The study demonstrates that reducing environmental impacts while maintaining production efficiency is essential for the sustainability of livestock systems. Consequently, the development of sustainability-oriented livestock policies is considered critical for environmental protection, conservation of natural resources, and future food security.