The European Commission’s short-term outlook – Autumn 2022 edition – shows that production of meat and dairy products in the European Union is expected to decline this year, and the following one.
Persistently high feed costs and African swine fever (ASF) continue to limit the growth of EU pigmeat production.
Beef production is expected to decline by -0.6% in 2022, mainly due to structural adjustment in the beef and dairy sector, despite high prices.
New records in Europe of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and a persistent virus in wild birds continue to impact the poultry sector.
Signs of declining livestock production warn of limited supplies which could exacerbate the high food inflation in Europe. The historic drought has reduced the availability of grass and feed (especially maize), thereby increasing costs for farms, which are also faced with soaring energy and fertiliser prices.
In view of a review of animal welfare legislation the Commission has published a “Fitness Check” which gives an overview of the achievements and challenges of current animal welfare legislation.
The European Scientific Committee of the Nutri-score has published an update of the algorithm which is supposed to be more “consistent” and “aligned” with nutritional and public health recommendations. These changes propose a more severe rating for certain foods, including meat.
The European Parliament voted in mid-September to extend the list of agricultural products covered by the future new anti-deforestation law to include maize, poultry and pork.
According to the World Climate Report, methane emissions are overestimated, with cattle producing 3 to 4 times less carbon dioxide than assumed.
The Swiss initiative “No to intensive livestock farming in Switzerland” was rejected by 63%.
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O artigo foi publicado originalmente em Farm Europe.
