Study: EU livestock density limits would mostly affect pig sector
Implementing livestock density limits results in reduced EU livestock numbers, particularly affecting the pig sector, with subsequent decreases in production of animal products and increases in market prices.
That's according to a study published by the European Joint Research Centre (JRC), authored by researchers Maria Bielza, Franz Weiss, Jordan Hristov, and Thomas Fellman.
The study found that livestock density limits reduce nitrogen surplus, especially in hotspot regions.
The European Green Deal (EGD) and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms aim to achieve substantial environmental and climate objectives, requiring changes in agricultural practices.
The researchers explained that livestock density limits could be one of the measures to reduce adverse environmental impacts associated with intensive livestock production, particularly nitrogen pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Their study examined the effects of imposing maximum limits on livestock units (LSU) per hectare of utilised agricultural area across the EU.
The analysis focuses on both the economic and environmental impacts of livestock density restrictions, with particular emphasis on their influence on production, nitrogen surplus, ammonia emissions, nitrate leaching, and GHG emissions.
Study on livestock density limits
Using the Common Agricultural Policy Regional Impact Analysis (CAPRI) model, a detailed agricultural sector model, the study simulates impacts of different livestock density thresholds (2 LSU/ha and 1.4 LSU/ha) at regional and grid levels.
The model facilitated an evaluation of the potential changes in production, market prices, trade dynamics, and environmental indicators, providing a comprehensive view of the policy's potential outcomes.
The study stated: 'The need to maintain the livestock sector intensity within certain limits was already acknowledged in the 1992 MacSharry reform of the CAP, where compliance with stocking density thresholds was necessary to receive beef support.'
A maximum threshold of 1.4 LSU/ha of forage or grassland areas has been proposed for grazing animals to define extensive livestock farming, and is one of the values used in various CAP Strategic Plans (e.g., coupled income support in France, eco-schemes in Germany and Ireland, Agri-Environment and Climate Measures in Belgium-Wallonia).
A 2 LSU/ha threshold has been used to approximate the value of 170kg N/ha from manure in the organic farming regulation and the CAP.
This threshold was first introduced in the 1992 CAP reform for the special premium for male bovines and the suckler cow premium, together with the 1.4 LSU/ha limit for the additional extensification premium.
Additional requirements as part of cross-compliance were introduced in the 2003 CAP reform, following the legislative standards of 2 LSU/ha in the Agenda 2000 and a maximum of 170kg N/ha from manure in the Nitrates Directive.
The study outlines that despite continued support and efforts to limit livestock density across the EU, several member states and regions considerably exceed recommended nitrogen limits.
Findings
According to the findings, implementing livestock density limits results in reduced EU livestock numbers, particularly affecting the pig sector, followed by beef with dairy least affected.
Lower supply of animal products leads to a general increase in producer and consumer prices. Producer price increases (see graph below) are highest for pigmeat, eggs and beef according to the research.
Source: 'Impacts of reduced livestock density on European agriculture and the environment' published by JRC
Farming practices shift toward extensification, with environmental benefits including reductions in ammonia emissions, nitrates leaching, and nitrogen surplus.
However, a considerable amount of GHG emissions reduction in the EU could be offset by emission leakage to non-EU regions, diminishing the net global environmental benefits, according to the researchers.
The study's findings offer insights for EU policymakers and agricultural stakeholders into the complexities associated with enforcing livestock density limits.
The authors explained that the results underscore the importance of balancing agricultural production with environmental sustainability and highlight the need for comprehensive strategies that account for both local and global environmental impacts.
The study suggests that integrated measures are essential to achieving the EGD's ambitious environmental objectives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Mapping Ireland's peatlands to help cut carbon emissions
Mapping more accurately than ever Ireland's peatlands, which are vital as carbon sinks but whose boundaries can be hard to determine, could help fight global warming, researchers say. Ireland is pockmarked with patches of dark brown peat soil that make up at least 20% of the land cover, according to Dr Eve Daly, a geophysicist at the University of Galway, who co-led a groundbreaking project on finding peat. "Peatland soils contain comparable amounts of carbon to the likes of rainforests so a more accurate map can lead to better land management decisions and mitigate against greenhouse gas emissions," she said. Her research team developed a new mapping approach using gamma radiation measurements to identify for the first time "transition zones" - typically hidden under forests and grasslands - where the soil changes from being peat to mineral-based. Dr Daly says the area of soil in Ireland considered "peaty" has increased thanks to a new colour-coded "peat/non-peat" map produced by the researchers. "Improved mapping at higher resolution and locating where hidden organic peat soils are and their extent are key inputs into working out carbon emission factors," she said. Her project co-leader Dave O'Leary said about 80% of Ireland had now been mapped out in patches of "peat" brown or "non-peat" green. "Few countries have invested in such an incredible data set, which puts Ireland at the forefront of peatland mapping research," he said. 'New lens' Land use, including farming and peatland draining, is a major source of Ireland's carbon emissions which could see the country failing to meet an EU-agreed climate target to cut emissions by over 50% by 2030. A recent report said Ireland risks an EU fine of almost €30 billion if it fails to reach the target and recommended the restoring - and rewetting - of thousands of hectares of peatlands to help deliver "massive" cuts in emissions. "We need to use more modern technologies or use old technologies with new lenses to try and find these hidden peat soils," Dr Daly said. Triven Koganti, an agroecology expert at Denmark's Aarhus University, said that 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions came from cultivated peatlands. "Historical agricultural draining of peatlands... or to use them as a fuel source has led to significant greenhouse gas emissions," he said. So "an accurate accounting" of peatland boundaries is needed to achieve "current global initiatives to restore peatlands", he said, adding the Irish research "plays an important role in establishing this". 'Bird's eye' technique The mapping technique - described as "bird's eye" by Dr Daly - is based on gamma-ray data measured by a sensor on board a plane that has been flown low over Ireland for a decade in a state-funded geophysical survey. "All rocks and different amounts of soils give off a certain amount of natural radiation but peat doesn't as it's full of organic material," she said. Soils are usually a mixture of broken bits of rock, water and air, but peat soils are distinct from mineral soils as they are formed from decaying plant material, water and air, and contain a very high amount of carbon. When waterlogged, this carbon is stored in the soil but when water is removed, for example via drainage, peat soils then emit carbon dioxide as the decay process restarts, Dr Daly said. The State-funded "Tellus" survey began in 2011 and is expected to be completed later this year.
RTÉ News
09-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Behind the Story: Estonia's different approach to AI in education
One of the emerging concerns in education in recent times has been AI, particularly when it comes to assignment work and plagiarism. Spotting it is becoming increasingly difficult, according to many academics, while in secondary schools in Ireland, there are anecdotal reports from teachers about its misuse. As this technology develops, it will only get more difficult for those whose job it is to spot it in assignments. Last weekend, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland voted to reject proposals aimed at reforming the Leaving Cert. The main concern for the majority of ASTI members was a lack of resources and capacity, according to General Secretary Kieran Christie. But another area of concern was project work and practicals that will be worth a minimum of 40% of a student's grade. The fear is that students could use AI for such projects, and it's not clear how that can be addressed. The Department of Education is finalising guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in schools. It says this guidance will focus on AI in teaching and learning, and will come in addition to the Examinations Commission's advice on the technology when it comes to the Leaving and Junior Certificate. Ultimately, decisions on how it may or may not be used in Irish schools will come down to the Boards of Management at each one. But while Ireland grapples with how to police AI in the classroom, another EU nation is embracing it – and it's one of the continent's top performing places when it comes to learning. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation's (OECD) PISA tests, which examine education outcomes in 79 countries, Estonian students are top in Europe in math and science. They are also second in the EU when it comes to reading, only behind Ireland. From September, the country will roll out licences for artificial intelligence platforms to students aged 16 and 17, as well as teachers. The technology will be integrated into the learning process for all subjects, including physical education. Speaking to RTÉ's Behind the Story podcast, the country's education minister Krisinta Kallas said that AI is here to stay and that the country wants to harness it rather than discourage it. "We are worried that if we don't do anything, and if we don't do more supervised learning with AI, there will be a lot of unsupervised learning with AI anyway and that would be at the detriment of the skills and competences of the children." Ms Kallas said that it will be up to the teachers to determine how exactly it will be used. "I think the crucial thing with AI is not so much of regulating its use, because I don't think you can 100% regulate it, but it is rather making teachers competent in how AI operates, how AI impacts learning, and how it can be used to enhance the learning. "So the training of the teachers is absolutely key. You should not put all your trust in technology, you should put all your trust on teachers." The children will use tablets in school, but can use their AI accounts on their own private devices at home too. It is hoped that by giving it to all students and schools, there will be equality in its use in education with no socio-economic gaps. There has been no public pushback on the plan according to Ms Kallas. "It might be because our education has been relatively digitalised for a very long time. "We introduced the first digital tools into our education system 25 years ago, so there is a whole parents' generation who has grown up by using digital technology in schools so it hasn't really been an issue. "So the debate is mostly about how to use AI and what kind of learning it should enhance, and what would happen if we don't use it because maybe there is much more fear of missing out on learning skills if we don't do a nationally - organised programme on AI introduction. "If we just allow to go in a natural way as it is today, then students are using it for replacing their own learning rather than learning with an AI and that's a much bigger risk than trying to introduce AI in a more supervised and controlled way with teachers." "In that reality we need to redesign the whole learning process – what kind of assignments we give to students and what kind of learning we want to happen, and how the AI will be used by the students to enhance this learning." Mobile phones Unlike other countries in Europe, Estonia supports the use of mobile phones in schools. But Ms Kallas said teachers ultimately take autonomy in decisions when it comes to them. "We believe in a bottom-up approach when we allow schools to make those regulations," she said. "Mobile phones are used in class for learning purposes quite a lot in Estonia. "And also mobile phones in Estonia are used for all other things that you do in life. "The child needs to get the bus schedule to get home, needs to contact their parents, needs to figure out how to get to the sports club after school. "We do voting and other activities as citizens through our mobile phones. "It would be confusing for the younger generation that on one side we want them to vote online and use their phones to do their civic duty and on the other side we ban them from the school. "What we need to do is make them learn how to use the mobile phone for the right purposes."
Agriland
04-06-2025
- Agriland
DAFM: First round of AMS notifications due later this month
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has confirmed that the first round of Area Monitoring System (AMS) notifications will be sent to farmers later this month. The AMS is the observation and assessment of agricultural activities and practices on agricultural areas. The system uses Copernicus Sentinel satellite data which is gathered automatically every five days and stored to provide up-to-date information as required. AMS Under the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the AMS is mandatory across all EU member states to monitor compliance with farm scheme criteria. The AMS interprets satellite imagery to provide decisions on agricultural activity on all declared land parcels of which there are approximately 1.1 million in Ireland. The department is monitoring all area-based schemes with data gathered by the system. DAFM spokesperson told Agriland:'The first round of AMS notifications will focus on the presence of potential artificial surfaces and will issue end of June with a deadline for receipt of responses of July 8, 2025.' 'The second round of notifications will issue mid-July and will notify on potential non-compliance detected for incorrect crops, potential ineligible areas, and no evidence of agricultural activity. 'The third round of notifications will issue mid-August and will notify on potential non-compliance detected for incorrect crops, potential ineligible areas, no evidence of agricultural activity and no evidence of ACRES winter bird food. 'The deadline for receipt of completed responses for both rounds 2 and 3 will be 2nd September 2025,' the spokesperson added. DAFM issued over 5,800 notifications to landowners this year due to potential scheme issues being detected through the AMS.
