Pathways for transitions to sustainability in livestock husbandry and food systems

Project Information

PATHWAYS

Grant agreement ID: 101000395

DOI

10.3030/101000395

EC signature date 5 May 2021

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 31 August 2026

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 9 026 907,49

EU contribution

€ 8 998 906,26

Coordinated by

SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET
Sweden

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - PATHWAYS (Pathways for transitions to sustainability in livestock husbandry and food systems)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The core aim of PATHWAYS is the delivery of policy pathways towards sustainable livestock production systems in Europe, while respecting planetary boundaries. PATHWAYS adopts a participatory approach to create a sense of ownership and ensure proposed practices and solutions are meaningful for practitioners in the field. Based on visions for animal production in 2050 by farmers and European stakeholders, PATHWAYS develops scenarios of different livestock futures. These scenarios are assessed for their performance and trade-offs against a sustainability evaluation framework which is informed by a range of sustainability assessments. This framework includes characterising current European livestock production systems, as a baseline to evaluate the impact of improving livestock management practices, and providing new indicators to better capture animal welfare, biodiversity and emission improvements. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods for livestock systems will be further developed to include impacts on GHGs, biodiversity, animal welfare, crop-livestock interactions and feed-food competitions as well as nutritional characteristics and social wellbeing. Furthermore, the project is assessing the extent to which livestock production systems can promote a circular bioeconomy and ecosystem service delivery across different spatial scales. By analysing the European livestock value chains for the physical flows, actors involved, power dynamics and sustainability performance, PATHWAYS is able to specifically target different stages of the value chain when proposing pathways for sustainable futures. To explore consumer expectations and sustainability concerns related to animal production, PATHWAYS evaluates the proportions of different consumer types and their motivations for decreasing levels of animal protein in diets, as well as consumers’ mind sets and willingness to pay for sustainable livestock production. To ensure future diets are nutritionally balanced, the project calculates the nutrient intake for different “food baskets” for different groups of people. Additionally, possible trade-offs between nutritional needs and environmental impacts will be assessed. The PATHWAYS knowledge exchange, dissemination, and transfer of outcomes’ is facilitating the dialogue between a range of stakeholders to promote the flow of knowledge on potential developments in livestock food systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first 48 months, PATHWAYS made major progress in developing and evaluating sustainable transformation pathways for European livestock systems. The project built on its participatory foundations, integrating evidence from Practice Hubs, Living Labs, and the Multi Actor Platform (MAP) to co create solutions addressing environmental, economic, and social challenges.

The Practice Hubs, involving farmers across 15 case studies, remained central to co innovation. Facilitators met regularly to share experiences, while Living Labs across partner countries delivered innovations ranging from welfare and grazing tools to biodiversity enhancing and value adding practices. The MAP met three times, engaging stakeholders from across the value chain to refine visions and scenarios for livestock in 2050. Scenario modelling advanced through integration of macroeconomic (MAGNET) and geospatial (GeoSOL) analyses. Translation of storylines such as “Feed No Food”, “Efficiency First”, “Rural Renaissance”, and “Animal Welfare” into quantitative assessments revealed key trade offs and synergies for policy and market pathways. The GeoSOL model now supports multi scale assessments of circularity and carrying capacity across EU regions. Livestock system characterisations were harmonised using FADN, Eurostat, and expert data, forming the basis for life cycle and socio economic analyses.

The PATHWAYS sustainability assessment framework evolved into a robust structure integrating biophysical, economic, and social dimensions. It has been applied to farm, value chain, and territorial scales, supported by advances in life cycle assessment (LCA), including Tier 3 GHG emission factors and new biodiversity and animal welfare indicators. Social LCA methods were refined to capture sector realities. Consumer research advanced through the FoodBasket7 web application, linking dietary, nutritional, and environmental data. Cross European surveys identified five main consumer archetypes shaping future demand and communication strategies.

Engagement and dissemination expanded through the Community of Practice, policy dialogues, and the Early Career Programme. The website exceeded targets with over 8,500 visits, and PATHWAYS results were shared at major policy and research fora. Coordination remained strong, with more than 130 management meetings ensuring timely delivery of outputs and compliance with ethics and data standards.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PATHWAYS advances beyond the state of the art by applying participatory, cross scale, and transdisciplinary approaches in livestock sustainability research. Its combination of farmer led innovation, stakeholder co design, and advanced modelling represents a methodological step forward in agri food transition science. Through its Practice Hubs and MAP, PATHWAYS shows how participatory governance and co innovation can accelerate transformation. The Living Labs exemplify real world experimentation, testing welfare, biodiversity, and emission reduction strategies that combine environmental gains with economic and social benefits.

The sustainability assessment framework integrates life cycle, economic, and social assessments with participatory data. Novel indicators, including Tier 3 GHG factors, animal welfare and biodiversity self assessment tools, and decision support instruments for emission management, enable more accurate measurement of system performance. Harmonised LCA methods and the GeoSOL model extend analysis beyond farms to territorial and circular dimensions, revealing how livestock interacts with ecosystem services and planetary boundaries.

Scenario modelling has produced a detailed understanding of potential futures for European livestock. Integration of MAGNET and GeoSOL enables assessment of systemic impacts and resilience under alternative policy and market conditions, identifying transition pathways aligned with the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork objectives. Socio economically, PATHWAYS fosters inclusivity and resilience. Participatory processes empower farmers, while consumer and policy analyses clarify societal expectations and build trust in sustainable livestock production. The project strengthens competitiveness by identifying regionally adapted innovations and demonstrating business cases for sustainability driven value creation.

By the end of the project, PATHWAYS will deliver a comprehensive sustainability assessment and policy framework integrating biophysical, socio economic, and governance indicators. It will provide validated Living Lab results on emission reduction, welfare improvement, and biodiversity enhancement, with quantified scenarios and transition pathways for livestock systems within planetary boundaries. Policy briefs, business cases, and decision tools will support uptake. Overall, PATHWAYS is strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of European livestock systems, improving societal acceptance of animal farming, and enhancing the sector’s capacity to meet climate, biodiversity, and welfare goals.

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