What is sustainable beef production? Are grass-based systems sustainable?
These questions will be addressed during a webinar on Monday, 27th September 2021, involving speakers from research, advisory services and farming across Europe. Hosted by the pan-European BovINE network and involving participants in the EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Sustainable Beef Production, it will take place from 12:30 -13:30 via zoom.
An exciting line up of international experts from across the European beef farming community will discuss the merits of a sustainable grass-based production system from the point of view of both practitioner and researcher.
The session will begin with a welcome and introduction to both the BovINE network and the EIP-Agri Focus Group on Sustainable beef production by Professor Maeve Henchion (Teagasc) and Dr Lizzie Sagoo (ADAS, UK). This will be followed by presentations and a dedicated Question & Answer session where the audience can join in on the discussion.
Topics covered at the webinar will be enhancing farm performance (Ana Digón, President of the Association of Regenerative Agriculture, Spain), farm-to-table value chain development (Anna Jamieson, farmer and independent expert, Sweden), certification and labelling (Russ Carrington, Farmer and independent expert, UK) and communication and knowledge exchange of sustainable beef production (Dr Irina Herzon, University of Helsinki, Finland).
Professor Maeve Henchion, from Teagasc and coordinator of the BovINE project and member of the EIP-AGRI Focus group on Sustainable beef production says:
“Ireland is well known for its excellent grass-based beef production systems. However grass-based beef is not the same across Europe and there are similar challenges across Europe in obtaining high levels of on-farm performance, developing value chains that reward and effectively communicate about related product attributes that are valued by consumers, and fostering an enabling innovation systems. This webinar will contribute to the debate that is needed about these issues.”
The webinar will be of interest to all stakeholders from acros the European beef sector with an interest in sustainability. Kevin Kinsella, BovINE network manager says: “With climate change and sustainability at the top of every agenda, this webinar will be of real interest to all EU beef stakeholders. It is an excellent collaboration between BovINE and EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Sustainable Beef Production”.
The EU-funded BovINE network was established in 2020 to provide a platform for knowledge exchange to address the challenges faced by the beef industry across Europe. It is open to all with an interest in learning of sustainable beef production practices. Further information on the BovINE network is available at: https://www.bovine-eu.net
The EIP-AGRI Sustainable Beef Focus Group brought together 20 individuals from 15 European countries with expertise from across the European beef sector to address the question ‘How can grass-based beef production systems, based on agroecology principles, remain sustainable?’ Further information on the work of the EIP-Agri Focus Group, is available here.
