REGISTER HERE.

Event Presentation

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is an important component of global climate change mitigation strategies as well as the European Climate Law, and the livestock sector is actively playing a role in reducing emissions generated throughout the food production chain.

Between 1990 and 2014 the EEA reported a 23% reduction in emissions from European livestock, and although the reductions have largely stagnated since then, the EEA reports an overall decreasing trend of 6% between 2005 and 2023 for agriculture, largely driven by reductions linked to livestock emissions such as methane and manure.

A lot is already being done by the EU livestock value chain to reduce emissions, such as improving animal health, enhancing feed quality, adopting circular economy approaches; and improving genetics; among others. But these efforts do not come at zero cost and investment is required, but impossible, if fair returns are not ensured for farmers.

This meeting will be an opportunity to hear directly from scientists, breeders and farmers about how far the sector has come and what can be done further to support EU producers in staying at the forefront of low-emissions livestock production.

Programme

 28th JANUARY |  9:30–12:30 PM |  Committee of the Regions, conference room JDE 51

Welcome Speeches

• Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Regional Council of Brittany – 9:30-9:40
• MEP Alexander Bernhuber – 5 min
• MEP Benoît Cassart – 5 min

I. Opening

Testimony from Louise Crowley, Irish dairy farmer – 9:50-10:00

Keynote speech – Pathways towards lower emissions in livestock
Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General, Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, and Chief Veterinarian at FAO– 10:00-10:20

II. What is already being done in the EU to reduce emissions from livestock? – 10:20-10:45

• The role of feed additives to reduce livestock emissions – David R Yáñez-Ruiz,Spanish National Research Council
  • LIFE Carbon Farming project – Anaïs l’Hôte, Project Manager, IDELE (Institut de L’élevage)

Coffee break – 10:45 – 11:15

III. Panel discussion – 11:15-11:45

Keynote speech: MEP Dolors Montserrat

• Christian Holzleitner, DG CLIMA
  • Thanawat Tiensin, FAO
  • Speaker from Brittany region
  • Louise Crowley, Irish dairy farmer

IV. Open discussion with MEPs – 11:45 – 12:15

V. Conclusion – 12:15 -12:30

MEP Alexander Bernhuber