H2020 Code Re-farm Project: Consumer-Driven Demands for Rethinking Agricultural Systems

Intensive livestock production systems (ILPS) are growing rapidly to meet demand. However, there is public skepticism about the intensification of livestock production, driven primarily by adverse links with environmental issues and the sustainable use of natural resources. Furthermore, ILPS are perceived as detrimental to animal health and welfare and can potentially undermine the quality of derived products. Extensive livestock production systems are low-input systems that are critical to supporting the development of rural communities.

However, the economic sustainability of such systems is often questioned, as they face natural resource constraints, adverse climatic conditions, and disease. Products from extensive systems are considered superior quality, but their resource-limited environment undermines their safety. Understanding the key strengths and weaknesses of different farming systems is crucial for sustainable production and delivery of quality products. Therefore, strategic planning and profitability analysis are necessary, taking into account system-oriented challenges and the added value resulting from consumer-driven demands and specialized products. Dairy cattle and pig production are the most important livestock sectors in Europe. However, our proposal will take a different approach. Compared to cattle and pig production, poultry and goat production systems are more resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to change. Code:Re-Farm focuses on poultry and goat production systems with the aim of understanding the links between farming systems and the intrinsic quality of derived products.

Novel technologies will also be leveraged to assess the intrinsic quality of products throughout the value chain, from farm to fork. Insights from this assessment, combined with knowledge about social demands and the sustainability of production processes, will drive alternative solutions (openly shared with the community) that adapt to sustainable, consumer-driven businesses.