The EAAP & ATF Special Session during the EAAP Annual Meeting aims to bring together animal science with practice of animal production and connect researchers, policy-makers, industry representatives and societal organisations. Every year, a different topic is addressed during this half-day session.

Background

It is often communicated in the media and among the general public that European citizens should reduce their consumption of animal products/proteins. Very often, the justification is both based on human health and sustainability point of views (use of resources, impact on climate, environmental footprint, AMR, animal welfare…). Can we find a consensus on recommended shares of animal products in our diets, at the junction of human health and planetary health? What share of animal-derived food in our diet is desirable from the environmental and health point of views? What does it mean for animal production in the EU and globally?

Format of the EAAP & ATF Special Session

The session would like to engage discussion with farmers, food processors, industries, retailers, nutritionists, scientists, and also with the society. Most important findings will be discussed with a panel. The outcomes of the session will be discussed in more details during the ATF seminar, in Brussels, on 7th Nov. 2018, where a large panel of European stakeholders will be invited.

Aim

The Special Session aims to contribute to:

• Engage a dialogue with various stakeholders;
• Support knowledge development and innovation, foster ownership by farmers and industries;
• Address how research and innovation can help the livestock sector;
• Provide input to European research and innovation agendas and to public policies to secure Europe’s role as a leading global provider of safe and healthy animal-derived products.

Outline general programme

13:55     Welcome and introduction

                By Jean-Louis Peyraud (ATF President) and Matthias Gauly (EAAP President)

ANIMAL PRODUCTS AND A HEALTHY DIET

14:00     Vision from nutritional science

What is the state of the art in human health? Is it relevant to recommend a general decrease in livestock consumption in the EU? Can we be more specific? We should acknowledge the risks associated to an over-consumption of animal products, but to what extent? Are there parts of the population at risk of deficiencies? Is there a consensus on the recommended share of livestock products in our diets from a human health perspective?

By Maria João Gregório, Portuguese National Programme in promoting a healthy diet

14:15     Vision from the food industry

Should we replace animal products by substitutes, presumed to be more sustainable? What are the substitutes to meat and dairy products (plant proteins, insects, algae, in vitro meat…), can they reach animal products quality? What are the risks associated to plant proteins (phyto-hormones…), to highly processed food meat substitutes…?

By Sergiy Smetana, Manager of the Food Data Group, German Institute of Food Technologists

ANIMAL PRODUCTS, PLANETARY Health and resource efficiency

14:30     Climate impacts of livestock farming

What are livestock farming’s impacts on greenhouse gases? How to optimize production systems? Can we improve current evaluation methods?

By Martin Scholten, Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

14:45     Resource use of livestock farming

More fuel for the Food/Feed debate: What is the resource use of livestock farming (feed, water, land, energy, use of biomass resources and circularity)? How to optimize production systems?

By Badi Besbes, FAO

15:00     Sustainability of various diets

How to compare the sustainability of various diets, vegan vs vegetarian vs conventional diets?

By Thomas Nemecek, Life Cycle Assessment Group - Research Division Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope

PROSPECTS IN PRODUCTION

15:15     Finding a sustainable balance in the European livestock sector

Outcomes of the RISE Foundation's study on EU livestock

By Annabelle Williams, RISE Foundation

15:30     Economic consequences of different scenarios of animal production in Europe

Current and projected trends in consumption in Europe and their consequences on livestock production in the EU and globally. Suppose that the consumption of livestock products in Europe will decrease, should Europe produce less or should Europe maintain its level of production and contribute to supply the world with high quality livestock products?

By Roel Jongeneel, Senior Scientist & Market and Policy Analyst - Agricultural Policy Group, WUR

15:45     Coffee break

PANEL DISCUSSION

16:15     Panel Discussion

Moderated by Martin Scholten (WUR, past President of ATF)

With all speakers and audience

17:45     Closing