New perspectives on cattle and sheep farming
Symposium on May 14, 2025, at the French Parliament
Ruminant livestock farming, as well as meat and dairy it produces, are often targeted as major sources of negative externalities (greenhouse gases, land use, water footprint, contribution to unhealthy diets, etc.). They are also identified as providers of significant positive externalities from farm to fork. Hence ruminant livestock farming and the corresponding food products are at the heart of sometimes much-heated controversy and tension.
This symposium provided an opportunity to explain the issues at stake and the reasons for these differences in perception and assessment. The speakers, scientists, experts, farmers, representatives of civil society, and businesses, presented an overview based on current scientific knowledge, particularly on the issues of climate metrics and biodiversity, but also on nutritional issues, in order to inform the current conversation around livestock farming, meat and dairy products, with nuance.

Highlights
Program and speakers
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Conference presentations
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Pourquoi les ruminants extensifs sont centraux pour des systèmes agrialimentaires durables en Europe
Poux X., 2025
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Comportement du méthane dans l’atmosphère et analyse des enjeux techniques du PRG100 et du PRG* -application au secteur des ruminants en France et en Europe.
AScA, Oxford Martin School, CranfieldUniversity, rapport pour l’OFB, 2025
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Oxford Martin Programme on Climate Pollutants : Climate metrics for ruminant livestock
Allen et al., 2022
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PLAIDOYER POUR LES PRAIRIES ET L’ÉLEVAGE DURABLE : Synthèse de la contribution du WWF France à l’évolution de la Politique Agricole Commune en France
Tyburce et al., 2025
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Une Europe agroécologique en 2050 : une agriculture multifonctionnelle pour une alimentation saine
Poux et Aubert, 2018
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Reshaping the European agro-foodsystem and closing its nitrogen cycle: The potential of combining dietary change, agroecology, and circularity
Billen et al., 2021
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Replay Webinaire - Eclairages sur le PRG* : Etat de l’art des métriques Climat
Xavier Poux, 2025
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Présentation PPT Webinaire - Eclairages sur le PRG* : Etat de l’art des métriques Climat
Xavier Poux, 2025
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