STEP UP partners interview #3: Country Perspective on Livestock Production
Welcome to the third edition of our blog series Country Perspectives on Livestock Production within STEP UP, an ambitious Horizon Europe project running from January 2024 to December 2027. The project’s mission is to reshape livestock production across Europe by combining the strengths of traditional farming practices with innovative approaches. By bridging European Livestock Production Systems (ELPS) with Innovative Livestock Production Systems (ILPS), STEP UP seeks to foster a more sustainable, resilient, and future-ready model of animal husbandry.
Meet the STEP UP Team
The STEP UP project brings together a dynamic consortium of 16 partners from 10 countries across Europe. Through this blog series, we are introducing these partners, highlighting the state of livestock production in their countries, and sharing their perspectives on the project. In each post, we look at the challenges they face, how they believe STEP UP can create impact, and their vision for the future of sustainable animal husbandry.
In this edition, we turn to Sweden, featuring insights from our partner Dengsheng Sun at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Questions:
1. In the beginning, can you tell us Something about yourself and your institution (expertise and background) and how it fits into the overall livestock landscape?
My name is Degsang Sun, and my background is animal science, covering different areas, i.e. animal nutrition (BSc), animal production (MSc), animal health and welfare (PhD), and precision livestock farming (PLF) (PhD). The above training allowed me to have a general knowledge of the current livestock production systems, and a deeper understanding of how different priorities (e.g. between high efficiency, technological solutions, and animal welfare) might affect the current production systems.
SLU has a general interest in sustainability, and plays a key role in the development of sustainable life, based on science and education. Livestock research has been a constant interest in SLU. Instead of focusing on one area, SLU explores the interactions between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources. By connecting different components of the ecosystem (livestock as one of them), SLU brings a holistic view/suggestions of how to reach sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet.
2. Why did you choose to be a part of the STEP UP project?
In my previous work, I focused on using PLF tools to improve the health and welfare status of livestock animals. Through this path, I realised that we applied the new technique on old thoughts (i.e. improving the production and efficiency). This made improving animal health status and welfare a consequence of applying new PLF tools, but not the initial intention.
What we missed is a holistic view of looking at the livestock production systems, and a reconsideration of the hierarchies of different values/goals (e.g. improving animal welfare, reducing farmers’ labour, etc.), because different intensions/values brings different production modes/decisions. The STEP UP project looks at the livestock systems from a holistic point of view, which brings the opportunities to rethink the current livestock systems (or a systematic change), instead of focusing on improving the current systems.
3. How do you see livestock production status in your country?
Livestock production in Sweden is characterised by high standards of animal welfare and animal health, with very limited use of antibiotics. These practices have contributed to strong consumer confidence in Swedish meat, and many prefer to buy domestically produced products. This, in turn, helps reduce the climate impact compared to imported meat.
Over the past decades, the number of farmers has declined, while farm sizes have increased, with more animals being managed through advanced technologies. However, one of the challenges facing Swedish agriculture is the difficulty of attracting younger generations to farming, which has led to an ageing farming population.
There is also a growing interest in using Swedish protein crops for animal feed, supporting more sustainable and locally based production systems. Sweden is home to diverse types of livestock farming. On one hand, conventional dairy farms typically keep 100–300 cows, often of the Swedish Holstein breed. On the other, smaller-scale dairy farms, sometimes with fewer than 20 cows of traditional breeds such as Fjällko, operate circular systems that contribute to biodiversity and rural cultural heritage.
In addition to dairy and meat production, rabbit farming is attracting increasing attention. Although still relatively small in scale, this sector reflects a broader interest in alternative systems that provide animal protein with lower environmental impacts.
4. What are the biggest issues and challenges for livestock production in your country?
One of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring profitability for Swedish farmers. Our animal products are of very high quality, which means that prices are often higher than imported alternatives. Competing with these cheaper products on the market is not easy, and making sure that locally produced food remains competitive is a key priority for the future.
Another important aspect is transparency in animal husbandry. We believe that consumers should have better insight into how livestock is raised and how food is produced. With clearer information, people can make more informed choices, and many would recognise the added value of Swedish production standards.
Looking ahead, we also need to strengthen our systems to meet higher biosecurity and environmental standards. This includes using resources more efficiently and building resilience against extreme weather events linked to climate change. These efforts will be essential to ensure that Swedish livestock production remains sustainable, competitive, and trusted.
5. Why it is important to have sustainable livestock production in your country?
Sustainability is key for the future of Swedish livestock production. By focusing on sustainable practices, we can further increase the market value of Swedish animal products and secure a stable future for our farmers. Consumer interest in sustainable food is already very strong in Sweden, and meeting this growing demand is essential.
A sustainable livestock system also has wider benefits for society. It can create new job opportunities by bringing together people from different professional backgrounds, while at the same time making the country more self-sufficient in times of crisis.
Finally, sustainable livestock production supports biodiversity and resource efficiency. Circular systems, where residual products from crop production are used as feed and manure is returned to the soil as fertiliser, are excellent examples of how we can close the loop and reduce waste. Altogether, these aspects make sustainability not just desirable, but necessary for the resilience and competitiveness of Swedish agriculture.
6. How do you see STEP UP influencing your country's livestock production?
STEP UP has the potential to make a real difference for Swedish livestock production. By delivering quantitative results, the project can provide valuable knowledge that is easily transferred to the general public, serve as decision-support for the livestock industry, and offer guidance for regional and national policymakers.
Another important contribution is that the STEP UP approach can be adapted to study local scenarios in more detail. By focusing on specific case studies, we can explore challenges and opportunities in depth and back them up with solid evidence. This kind of knowledge is crucial for shaping a more sustainable and resilient livestock sector in Sweden.
Conclusion
We warmly thank Sun for his valuable contributions to the STEP UP project. His commitment and expertise have been instrumental in driving our work forward, and we look forward to following his future activities and results.
Stay connected with us as we continue to showcase how our partners are shaping the future of sustainable livestock production. You can follow the journey through our Newsroom, and on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.
