The 9 Paradoxes of Farm to Fork

The 9 Paradoxes of Farm to Fork

Date published:  25 March 2021

Launched today in 7 European countries, a video appeal illustrates the Farm to Fork paradoxes which hinder the green transition

The European livestock sector offers to share its know-how for a genuinely sustainable production system

 Brussels – 25 March 2021 – The European livestock sector presented today “The 9 paradoxes of Farm to Fork”, a call to actively participate in the current sustainability challenge to develop and implement an effective and adequate Farm to Fork strategy for Europe. Born from an initiative of Carni Sostenibili and European Livestock Voice, the series of videos was launched simultaneously in 7 European countries and languages: Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Poland.

The videos highlight the fact that despite good intentions, the Farm to Fork strategy does not take into consideration the actual situation and challenges of the livestock sector. They reflect the will of the whole chain to be actively involved in the great green transition process, now in progress.

The paradoxes identified reflect misconceptions and prejudices surrounding the livestock sector in terms of the environment, health and the economy. They reveal inaccuracies in the understanding of:

  • The nutritional value of meat
  • The consistency of land use for livestock farming activities
  • The environmental sustainability of the European livestock chain
  • The economic impact of the sector
  • The protection of animal welfare
  • The use of natural vs chemical fertilizers
  • Job security and employment in rural areas
  • The gastronomic and cultural heritage of animal-source products;
  • The security and availability of our food products

The Farm to Fork strategy, at the heart  of the European Green Deal, can be an opportunity to enhance the results achieved by the European agricultural and livestock system: the challenge lies in research, innovation and technology. It is also crucial to ensure sufficient production to respond to the growing demand for food using fewer resources – says Giuseppe Pulina, President of Carni Sostenibili (Sustainable Meat) – Today, those working in the zootechnics supply chain have the duty to help decision makers not to waste the great opportunity to guide the agri-food system for more than the next 10 years” .

“Livestock has been – and still is – blamed for many evils. We may not be perfect, but it is only fair to highlight the numerous measures already taken and the substantial progress made by all in our sector. And it is still work in progress. The videos we launch today reflect the reality of livestock and aim to debunk common misconceptions, many of which unfortunately presided over the planning of the Farm to Fork strategy. It is crucial to make our voice heard, because we want to be part the current process which will determine the future, and because we wish to make ourselves available to share our knowledge and experience with policy-makers, during the ongoing discussions on F2F” said Birthe Steenberg, Secretary General of AVEC (Poultry meat sector), speaking in the name of European Livestock Voice.

If you are interested in this issue, join us on 5 May for a follow-up debate with expert speakers from all sides of the spectrum. More to come from @LivestockVoice on Twitter.

European Livestock Voice (www.meatthefacts.eu ) is a multi-stakeholder group of like-minded EU partners united to bring back a balanced debate around a sector that is playing such an essential role in Europe’s rich heritage and future. The associations represent sectors ranging from animal health to feed, to breeding and animal farming and farmers; together they aim to inform the public about the social value of livestock production and its contribution to global challenges, offering another perspective in the ongoing debates.

Carni Sostenibili (www.carnisostenibili.it/en/) is an Italian non-profit association that represents all the production chains dedicated to the processing and transformation of meat (beef, pork and poultry). Founded in 2012 the association has created a digital communication platform, supported by the publication of studies and researches, to promote correct scientific information and its dissemination, regarding the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the entire meat supply chain.

 Contact:

European Livestock Voice

Florence Ranson  florence@red-comms.eu  +32 (0)477 49 26 90

Carni Sostenibili

Elena Giacchino elenagiacchino1@gmail.com  +39 340 26 82 776