We have already spoken with MEPs Benoit Cassart and Alexander Bernhuber about the importance of an Intergroup in the European Parliament focused on Sustainable Livestock, a platform aiming to bring together MEPs to discuss the sector’s contributions to environmental, social, and economic sustainability, depolarising the debate around animal farming by offering a balanced, holistic view of the value chain. Today, we have spoken with the third of the co-chairs of the initiative, Maria Grapini (S&D, Romania), asking her the same questions we asked her colleagues.

Where did the idea to create an Intergroup dedicated to sustainable livestock farming at the European Parliament come from?
The idea of creating an intergroup dedicated to sustainable animal farming at the European Parliament came from the desire to address the livestock sector’s major challenges in climate change and increasing sustainability requirements. Agriculture and livestock farming play a vital role in the European economy, and promoting sustainable practices is essential for environmental protection and ensuring safe and accessible food. Through this intergroup, we aim to stimulate dialogue between European institutions, the livestock industry, researchers, and animal welfare organisations to find innovative and balanced solutions that support responsible and sustainable animal farming, considering both animal welfare and the environmental and natural resource impacts.

Why do you think it is important to have this intergroup now?
This intergroup needs to exist now because the livestock sector is undergoing a profound transformation under the pressure of increasingly strict environmental regulations, sustainability requirements, and consumer expectations regarding animal-based products. Climate change and biodiversity protection require a re-evaluation of how we raise animals, and the industry must adopt innovative solutions that strike a balance between efficient production and environmental protection. Moreover, animal welfare must remain a priority, and legislation should reflect this without compromising the sector’s competitiveness. This intergroup can play a crucial role in facilitating constructive dialogue between decision-makers, industry, and society to identify best practices and support the implementation of policies that address these complex challenges.

What are the exact objectives of this intergroup?
The objectives of this intergroup are multifaceted and aim to support a more sustainable, efficient, and responsible livestock sector. First, we aim to promote policies that support the transition to more sustainable animal farming practices, which reduce environmental impact and improve the use of natural resources. Another key objective is to promote animal welfare, ensuring that European regulations uphold the highest standards of animal care. Additionally, the intergroup will work to support research and innovation in animal nutrition, health, and biotechnology to foster the development of new solutions that contribute to more sustainable production of meat, milk, and other animal products. Another important goal is facilitating ongoing dialogue between the European Parliament, industry, animal welfare organizations, and competent authorities to ensure balanced and effective regulation supporting sector competitiveness and environmental protection. We also aim to communicate the results of our discussions and consultations with the livestock sector to the European Commission.

You have talked about animal welfare and health, but an intergroup is already dedicated to these topics. What are the differences between these two intergroups?
Indeed, there is already an intergroup specifically dedicated to animal welfare and health, but the objectives of this intergroup are broader and focus on more complex aspects of the livestock sector, particularly in the context of the transition to sustainable agriculture. The main difference between the two intergroups is that our intergroup focuses on integrating animal welfare within a broader sustainability strategy, including challenges related to climate change, resource efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. While the intergroup dedicated to animal health and welfare focus on specific regulations and best practices for animal protection, ours will also address how these practices can be implemented within a wider economic and ecological context to support sustainable, efficient, and responsible production. Essentially, our intergroup will focus on finding integrated solutions that support animal welfare and the sustainability of the entire livestock sector.