Livestock has been central to UK agriculture for centuries and is culturally embedded in the popular image of national farming systems. But the sustainability of the sector is increasingly questioned due to the impacts of farming methods on the environment, and of meat and dairy consumption on health. There is some consensus around the idea that livestock farming must change or transform, but there is less agreement on how this might happen. A shared view of the sector’s challenges and opportunities is needed to transform the system. Yet it is unclear whether stakeholders in the livestock sector share the same vision of the system and its current structure and where it needs to get to.
This session highlighted research from the TRAnsforming the DEbate about Livestock Systems Transformation (TRADE) project to understand and measure the environmental, health, economic and societal trade-offs inherent in different transformation scenarios.
Catch up on this Connect Series event.
On the first Thursday of each month our Knowledge Exchange Fellow, Dr Tracey Duncombe, holds a webinar showcasing research and innovation across the Food System landscape. To date, these events have covered a variety of topics from public diners and whole school approaches to food, to putting food centre stage at COP29 and cultured meat. If you would like to join future webinars please email food.systems@bbsrc.ukri.org or to catch up on previous events visit our YouTube playlist.
