The European Commission has unveiled a long-awaited overhaul of its livestock strategy, officially classifying the sector’s contraction as a direct risk to the continent’s strategic autonomy and food security. The sweeping blueprint promises a gradual ban on cages, an end to the systematic killing of male chicks, and a diplomatic push to sell European meat standards to the world.
A sector in crisis: Acknowledging the strategic risk
For the first time, Brussels has explicitly linked the weakening of animal farming to geopolitical vulnerability. Moving beyond purely environmental debates, the Commission recognised that the decline in herds threatens a sector that employs roughly 7 million people and generates an annual turnover of approximately €400 billion.
Despite EU livestock farming being ranked as the most efficient globally by the FAO, the total number of animals has fallen by 10% over the past decade due to soaring costs, weather anomalies, and disease outbreaks. The new strategy seeks to reverse this trend to safeguard Europe’s self-sufficiency.
The end of the cage and chick culling
In a landmark shift for animal welfare, the strategy sets a definitive course towards phasing out cages in farming. The Commission confirmed it will revise rules for laying hens and broilers by the end of 2026, with new standards for pigs following in 2027. Farmers will be granted transition periods and financial support to adapt. Furthermore, the strategy mandates the rollout of in-ovo sexing technology, effectively ending the mass culling of male chicks — a practice that currently sees about 330 million birds killed across the bloc annually. Health Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi noted that improving welfare directly correlates with better animal health.
Feeding the continent: The protein independence plan
Addressing a critical dependency, the strategy is accompanied by a dedicated Protein Action Plan. Currently, only 25% of the oilseed and protein crops used for animal feed are grown within the EU. The Commission has set a target to raise this share to 35% by 2035, leveraging resources from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) while simultaneously diversifying import sources. Commissioner Hansen stressed that livestock and plant proteins are complementary, arguing that together they build more resilient agricultural systems.
Mirroring calls for consumer patriotism, the plan introduces a ‘Buy European’ campaign aimed at highlighting the bloc’s high meat quality standards. Brussels believes that better consumer information and fair pricing will drive profits, while also diversifying markets. To protect the internal market and aggressively push exports, the EU announced the launch of “agri-food diplomacy” and high-level trade missions to open new doors for producers.
Five pillars for the future
The roadmap is structured around five key priorities. First, enhancing crisis resilience through a dedicated financial risk-management scheme and stricter disease prevention. Second, strengthening competitiveness via innovation and circular economy principles, including simplified rules for new technologies. Third, mitigating environmental impact without undermining the economic viability of farms. Fourth, recognising the continent’s territorial diversity, respecting the differences between mountain pastures and specialised industrial farms. Finally, promoting best practices, where producers adhering to the highest standards will receive additional market preferences.
Despite the fanfare, the Commission faces the formidable challenge of funding this transition, with estimates running into billions of euros. The proposals, shaped by consultations with farmers and civil society, respond to a clear public mandate: 82% of Europeans believe farm animals deserve better protection.
