EU green policy: food security risk increases due to decline in livestock

In 2024, the pig population will have decreased by 0.5 percent, the number of cattle by 2.8 percent, sheep by 1.7 percent, and goats by 1.6 percent. In the past decade, according to Eurostat data, the number of pigs has fallen by 8.1 percent, cattle by 8.7 percent, sheep by 9.4 percent, and goats by 16.3 percent.

According to the ELV, the decline is due to environmental and regulatory pressure, rising production costs, changing consumer habits, and recurring agricultural crises. The number of farms has also fallen dramatically, especially among livestock and mixed farms.

The organization warns that the EU is increasingly importing meat from countries with lower animal welfare and food safety standards, increasing consumer risks while reducing Europe’s food security.