Smaller, greener, healthier? Sustainability of livestock farming in Europe

On Wednesday 9 September, Kurt Sannen, Chair of IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Farmers, participated in the online debate “Smaller, greener, healthier? Sustainability of livestock farming in Europe” organized by AnimalhealthEurope. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the implications of the Farm to Fork Strategy for the European livestock sector, and how this sector can deliver on sustainability demands.

After an introduction by Health & Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides underlining the need to reduce antimicrobials, Kurt Sannen presented the organic model and its potential to inspire European farmers. He explained that the question should not be how to produce more, but rather how to produce sufficient nutritious food in a sustainable way. Kurt gave inspiring examples from his own organic farm Bolhuis, in Diest (Flanders, Belgium).

Kurt also reminded that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) must provide the necessary remuneration for the benefits of organic conversion and maintenance through existing rural development policies or innovative tools like eco-schemes.

Read more in AnimalhealthEurope press release.

Learn more about IFOAM Organics Europe’s interest groups. Are you an organic farmer who is interested in being part of IFOAM Organics Europe’s Interest Group of Organic Farmers? Contact lé[email protected].