Mixed farming systems: livestock/cash crops

The specialisation and intensification of European farming systems increased productivity but also led to serious consequences on the environment. These consequences include water pollution due to an excess of manure and slurries in certain areas and high reliance on external mineral and feed inputs, loss of biodiversity and lower resilience to climate change. These negative impacts are partially linked to the separation of livestock farming and cash crop production both at farm and regional levels. Mixed farming systems (MFS) can use resources more efficiently by using crops and grasslands to feed animals and fertilising their fields with manure from the animals. This report presents the results of the EIP-AGRI Focus Group on Mixed farming systems: livestock/cash crops. The report presents successful case-studies of MFS at the farm and at regional level across Europe, highlighting relevant innovations, as well as the main barriers and opportunities, suggesting specific indicators on economic, environmental and social dimensions of MFS.