STEP UP, a Horizon Europe project running from January 2024 to December 2027,
aims to upgrade livestock production in Europe by making it more sustainable.
Programme: HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01
Type of Action: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
Duration: January 2024 – December 2027 (48 months)
Consortium: 16 partners from 10 countries
Coordinator: Teagasc Animal and Grassland Research and
Total budget: 4.311.559 EUR
Innovative Livestock Production Systems: Sustainable Solutions
The project will actively engage in evaluating and analysing Innovative Livestock Production Systems (ILPS). By incorporating technology-driven techniques, ILPS will enable more informed and sustainable livestock systems, enhancing efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and improving animal welfare. Insights collected from ILPS assessments will support the improvement of traditional European Livestock Production Systems (ELPS).
Challenges in Traditional Livestock Production
Overcoming challenges
STEP UP is tackling issues in European livestock farming by giving policymakers clear information on the effects (both positive and negative) of raising animals. This information will even show the euro value of these effects on the food system and environment. This will help establish better farming methods throughout Europe that are sustainable, reuse resources, and are open about their practices.
STEP UP’s Key Objectives
#1: Analyse the positive and negative impacts and externalities of ELPS through comprehensive science-based knowledge and identify routes to overcome data gaps towards sustainability across both social and environmental contexts.
#2: To conduct thorough case studies, harmonising existing data, identifying gaps, and exploring opportunities for new data collection and system development, using a multi-actor approach for real-world context.
#3: Improve existing and develop new indicators for assessing the externalities of sustainable European livestock production systems (ELPS), considering relevant value-chain factors.
#4: Provide a comprehensive impact assessment and cost-benefit quantification of current livestock farming systems in various socio-ecological-economic contexts through innovative measuring methods.
#5: Simulate transition pathways for livestock systems’ sustainability through forecast scenarios, estimating effects and monetising impacts to capture diversity in livestock systems.
#6: Exchange and transfer evidence-based STEP UP knowledge of livestock farming as part of the food system and wider ecosystem to a broad range of stakeholders, supporting policy and decision-makers.
Collaboration is the key
the consortium’s partners and stakeholders.
Stakeholders:
- Farmers
- On-field livestock practitioners
- Data providers
- Research institutions and industry experts
- Policymakers
- European Commission
- Other key agriculture actors
