Knowledge and innovations as key factor in competitiveness of the livestock sector
2019
Gantner, V. | Kučević, Denis (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1932-7156) | Brka, M.
Forecasts indicate that the world population will increase from current 7.2 billion to 9.6 billion till year 2050. Population growth, coupled with growing revenue and urbanization, will impose enormous challenges on food and agriculture systems. The expected growth of the human population and demand implies an increase in the number of domestic animals from the current 60 billion to 100 billion by 2050. On the other hand, the natural resources needed to increase global food production will not grow, implying that it is necessary to increase production in the context of an increasing deficit of natural resources (soil, water and nutrients). Research and innovation has made the European livestock sector competitive, balanced and efficient as it is today. Therefore, innovations and knowledge transfer in the livestock sector are the key factor to securing the sustainability and competitiveness of the livestock production systems in the future. Currently, livestock production is increasingly called into question because of the environmental impact, potential health risks and ethical reasons. On the other hand, livestock production sector has high possibility to realize a more sustainable circular agriculture and food system and to support the creation of opportunities for European value chains. Animals are recyclers by nature, so there is a need to strengthen that role and better defining the conditions under which the contribution of livestock can be crucial for more circular and sustainable agri-food systems. In future period, research and innovations should support a diversity of production systems and breeds aiming to improve the sustainability of European farming and food systems as a whole, enabling maximisation of their benefits and minimisation of their impacts. Furthermore, research and innovations must be supported by demonstration into practice (‘what works’), involving the relevant end users, and associated to practical benefits and applicable throughout European Union.
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