Hakukuulutukset Asiantuntija työryhmään Thematic Group on the CAP's role in supporting sustainable and competitive livestock systems This Thematic Group (TG) will provide an opportunity to explore how to improve the way CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) are used to support transitions to more sustainable and competitive livestock systems, taking into account the diversity of systems in the EU. EU CAP Networkin teemaryhmään haetaan osallistujia Livestock systems play an important economic, social, environmental and cultural role in the EU. As well as producing meat, dairy and other products (e.g. wool) and supporting rural livelihoods, sustainable livestock systems can provide a range of services, such as maintaining semi-natural, high nature value habitats, supporting biomass management and carbon storage in the soil, enabling nutrient recycling, and shaping the cultural and landscape characteristics of many local rural and remote mountain areas. In the EU, there is a great diversity of livestock production systems, with the importance and type of livestock farming varying greatly between Member States and regions. Between 2010 and 2020, the share of agricultural holdings having livestock, as well as total livestock numbers in the EU, decreased due to restructuring in different parts of the sector. Currently, cattle (both dairy and beef) account for almost half of all livestock in the EU, with pigs accounting for about a third, and poultry making up 15%. Livestock density varies greatly across regions (0.2 – 4.4 LU/ha), with an average livestock density in the EU of 0.7 LU/ha. As is the case for all forms of agriculture, livestock also has to play its part in addressing agriculture’s environmental and climate footprint. This includes improving nutrient management, promoting nutrient circularity, and reducing emissions through enhancing the development of sustainable production models, as well as enhancing the economic viability of extensive systems to reduce the risk of land abandonment to maintain semi-natural, high nature value habitats. Finding ways of transitioning to more sustainable livestock production systems in the EU is therefore key, reflecting on both their diversity and the different benefits they provide. The Vision for Agriculture and Food highlights this as a priority. It recognises that sustainable livestock systems are ‘crucial for the EU economy, viability of rural areas and preservation of the environment and of rural landscapes’, and highlights that a key challenge is to find ways to ‘address its climate/environment footprint, including ways to valorise the link between livestock production and maintenance of environment- and climate-valuable grasslands through more extensive livestock systems beneficial to the preservation of biodiversity and landscapes ‘. This requires finding ways to support livestock farming towards greater sustainability in environmental and climatic terms while recognising and accelerating the efforts already made, taking into account the diversity of systems and territorial specificities. To this end, the European Commission has established a dedicated workstream on livestock, with a focus on exploring policy pathways for a competitive, future-proof, sustainable and fair livestock sector in the EU. The current CAP offers a range of interventions that Member States can use to support the sustainability and competitiveness of the livestock sector in all its diversity. This includes investment support and area-based payments (eco-schemes and agri-environment-climate interventions) as well as support for cooperation, innovation and knowledge exchange. Despite this, there is more that can be done to maximise their use within Member State CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs), for these purposes. This TG is an opportunity for you to be part of a committed group of experts and relevant stakeholders that will explore how to improve the way CSPs are used to support transitions to more sustainable livestock systems, taking into account the diversity of systems in the EU. It will explore ways to reduce their climate/environmental footprint, as well as maintain those systems that are beneficial for biodiversity and landscapes, taking into account the economic and socio-cultural implications of such changes to make them resilient for the future. It will build on experiences and situations in different regions and value chains. Objectives The objectives of this TG are to: Explore the different pathways and approaches being adopted in different parts of the EU to promote diverse, sustainable and competitive livestock production systems, taking into account territorial specificities. Consider the role CSPs can play in supporting tailored approaches to enable the sustainability and competitiveness of all livestock production models, building on existing examples to identify where the current barriers lie and the factors that need to be in place to drive meaningful change. Identify the necessary conditions (e.g. markets) and tools outside the CAP that should work hand in hand with CSPs to progress along the identified pathways. Identify and share good practice examples that illustrate the actions currently being taken to promote more sustainable and competitive livestock systems. The TG will consist of a small (around 40) but dedicated cross-section of informed and engaged stakeholders, including policymakers and administrators at regional and national levels (including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies), beneficiaries such as farmers and farming organisations, LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs), Operational Groups (EIP), advisers, researchers, National CAP Networks (NNs), and other relevant rural and environmental stakeholders. Participants will commit to engaging in two meetings and related activities, ensuring diverse perspectives and active contributions towards achieving the TG’s objectives. The first meeting will take place in person in Brussels on 29 January 2026. The second meeting will take place in person on 15 April 2026 (location to be defined). There is no charge for attendance at these meetings. However, for the in-person meeting, travel and accommodation costs may be covered for TG members representing farmers, farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), European and national civil society organisations (including NGOs), and researchers/universities. All other TG members will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation costs. The meetings will be held in English without interpretation. Expressions of interest can be submitted through the link by 1 December 2025: https://form.jotform.com/253012482893357 Participants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: Necessary Experience/knowledge and motivation to explore themes related to CAP’s role in supporting transitions to more sustainable and competitive livestock systems; Representing either policymakers and administrators at regional and national level (including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies), beneficiaries such as farmers or farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), advisers, researchers, NNs and other relevant rural and environmental stakeholders; Capacity and willingness to engage, network and exchange effectively at national, regional and local levels; Firm commitment to participate in two meetings of the TG (29 January and 15 April 2026), and the activities in between; Ability to communicate clearly in English without interpretation. Desirable Familiarity with or willingness to explore pathways for sustainable livestock systems, both in terms of reducing their climate and environmental footprint and in maintaining those that are most beneficial for biodiversity and landscapes, while maintaining their economic viability; Commitment to share design and implementation models and best practices with other members during the TG activities; Commitment to share TG outputs with other colleagues or networks outside of the TG. Please note that when selecting the TG members from the expressions of interest, the EU CAP Network will, to the extent possible, also consider the need to ensure a balance of participants from EU Member States, sectors and topics, and gender. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation of participation as soon as possible and by 12 December 2025 at the latest. TG membership is granted on an individual basis, taking into account the replies received and not per organisation. Since places are limited and in the interest of fairness, successful applicants are asked to commit to participating in the TG activities. In case of unforeseen circumstances, TG members must inform the organisers as soon as possible if they are unavailable to attend a TG meeting. Non-attendance without prior notice may result in exclusion from future TGs and other EU CAP Network events. If you have any questions, please contact us at thematicgroup3@eucapnetwork.eu. To follow the work of this Thematic Group, please visit this page regularly, subscribe to our monthly newsletterOpen link in new window, and follow us on social media (#SustainableLivestock and #CAPforLivestock). Kustannuksien korvaaminen There is no charge for attendance at these meetings. However, for the in-person meeting, travel and accommodation costs may be covered for TG members farmers, farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), European and national civil society organisations (including NGOs), and researchers/universities. All other TG members will need to pay for their own travel and accommodation costs. Näin haet mukaan Expressions of interest can be submitted through the link by 1 December 2025: https://form.jotform.com/253012482893357 Participants will be selected on the basis of the following criteria: Necessary Experience/knowledge and motivation to explore themes related to CAP’s role in supporting transitions to more sustainable and competitive livestock systems; Representing either policymakers and administrators at regional and national level (including Managing Authorities, Paying Agencies), beneficiaries such as farmers or farming organisations, LAGs, Operational Groups (EIP), advisers, researchers, NNs and other relevant rural and environmental stakeholders; Capacity and willingness to engage, network and exchange effectively at national, regional and local levels; Firm commitment to participate in two meetings of the TG (29 January and 15 April 2026), and the activities in between; Ability to communicate clearly in English without interpretation. Desirable Familiarity with or willingness to explore pathways for sustainable livestock systems, both in terms of reducing their climate and environmental footprint and in maintaining those that are most beneficial for biodiversity and landscapes, while maintaining their economic viability; Commitment to share design and implementation models and best practices with other members during the TG activities; Commitment to share TG outputs with other colleagues or networks outside of the TG. Please note that when selecting the TG members from the expressions of interest, the EU CAP Network will, to the extent possible, also consider the need to ensure a balance of participants from EU Member States, sectors and topics, and gender. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation of participation as soon as possible and by 12 December 2025 at the latest. TG membership is granted on an individual basis, taking into account the replies received and not per organisation. Liittyvät aiheet Maatalous Kansainvälisyys Asiasanat kotieläintuotanto Nautaeläimet siipikarja sika Lihan tuotanto Lammas, vuohi Hakuaika: 03.11.2025-01.12.2025 Organisaatio: EU CAP Network Alue: Koko Suomi Kansainväliseen yhteistyöhön Haun kohderyhmä: Julkishallinto, Maatilayrittäjät, Kehittäjät, Tutkijat, Neuvojat, Koulutus Lisätietoja If you have any questions, please contact us at thematicgroup3@eucapnetwork.eu. Jaa:
