Plant Biodiversity Suffers Without Livestock Grazing, Says Expert
On the back of a recent European Commission-funded report which called for nuance in the livestock vs environment debate, EURACTIV took a look at the importance of EU grasslands and the role of livestock in maintaining them.
The report, published in October, comes amidst increasing debates over the role of livestock and the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Although it does not shy away from pointing out the significant contribution of the livestock sector to environmental issues, the report highlights that the debate over meat is not a clear cut one, stressing the need to avoid “oversimplification”.
“The study invites the reader to avoid oversimplification of the debate around the livestock sector and its impact,” the executive summary of the report reads, concluding that it is not possible to consider livestock as a whole.
“Livestock plays a key role in land use that can be either positive or negative at local and global level,” it adds.