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The environmental impact of beef cattle production varies significantly across farming systems, influenced by factors like feed, management practices, and land use. By applying the LCA perspective with “from cradle to farm gate” boundaries and using the CAP’2ER® tool, this study evaluates the carbon footprint of two farming models in Italy: a semi-extensive cow-calf beef production and an intensive farm for calf fattening. The carbon footprint was calculated using two functional units: kilograms of live meat gross production (LMGP), and a monetary unit. The first model showed a lower carbon footprint, with 13.4 kg CO2eq/kg LMGP and 1.96 kg CO2eq/EUR, compared to the second one 19.2 kg CO2eq/kg LMGP and 5.20 kg CO2eq/EUR. The use of monetary value as a functional unit is rarely explored in the literature, since most studies have focused on weight-based metrics, favoring intensive systems with longer lifecycles compared to extensive farming. Furthermore, contrary to findings in the literature for semi-extensive systems like adaptive multi-paddock grazing, the tool used for the calculation did not detect any carbon sequestration. These findings highlight the need for further investigation into diverse functional units to assess the environmental and economic performance of farming systems. Expanding this approach could inform policies and consumer decisions, promoting sustainable beef production aligned with climate goals and the European Green Deal agenda.

The dehesa agroforestry system is classified as one of the most singular ecosystems in the European Union. In the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, it spreads over an area of approximately 6.7 million hectares, contributing major environmental, cultural, aesthetic and economic value to the region. The main agricultural activity that is developed in this ecosystem is the extensive farming of cattle, sheep and Iberian pigs with low stocking density and few inputs. Sustainable management of these ecosystems’ existing production farms is essential in order to secure their continuity, as they face a difficult situation on account of their low profitability. One of the strategies that could be employed to attain a sustainable situation is the proposition of an organic production model. In order to explore this option, a participatory research process has been proposed and developed in the Spanish region called Extremadura (Spain). The aim of this process is to investigate the potential of extensive farming systems in moving toward a sustainable organic production model, identifying the main barriers preventing livestock farmers from converting to the organic model and seeking specific improvement measures that would reduce such barriers. For that purpose, four focus group sessions were run with a total of 33 participating stakeholders. For the analysis of these focus groups, Atlas.ti qualitative software was used to categorize and quantify the main ideas proposed during the sessions. The findings revealed that the main barriers can be classified into three groups: barriers that are inherent to the production processes and the structure of the specific sector, barriers associated with administration and management issues and lastly, barriers relating to education and training of the various actors involved. We consider this paper may contribute to policy makers’ decisions to focus on specific actions for improvement that are customized for the socio-economic and environmental conditions of the region.

Nowadays, extensive livestock farming faces substantial threats in the Mediterranean region, provoking a setback dynamic in the sector. In 2016, the Fire Flocks (FF) project was conceived and implemented as a regional strategy to revert this situation and revalue the sector in Catalonia, in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. FF promotes forest management through extensive livestock farming, and more specifically silvopastoralism, to reduce vegetation load and wildfire risk. The initiative also works on fire risk awareness with the aim of promoting extensive livestock products through FF label and valorization strategies. Five years after its initial implementation, the project managers detected several weaknesses and potential improvements directly affecting the economic and environmental performance of the participating farms. It was therefore considered necessary to conduct targeted qualitative interviews with the farmers participating in the project in order to gather their opinions on the project’s functioning and further steps. To this end, 17 farmers were interviewed with the aid of a qualitative questionnaire. The farmers stated that although FF is not providing them with any direct financial benefits, it does present an opportunity to belong to a group of farmers working on wildfire prevention, thereby lending them a voice as a group, and reaching more social visibility. The qualitative analyses elucidate key elements to be promoted in FF, such as redesign of the operational structure, expansion to a regional scale and action lines to facilitate grazing activity.

The aim of this work is to assess the flexibility of production allowed by extensive production conditions faced with variations in the environment, i.e., market variations and climatic fluctuations, of Limousin beef systems. The study used a case-based methodology in which seven beef farms with less than 1 LU/ha were chosen. Data collection was based on three interviews using a semistructured questionnaire and on the analysis of productive and economic results over a 15-year period (1991-2005). The main evolution of these farms is related to a rise in work productivity associated with an increase in herd size. Herd increase was made possible by enlarging the area, the margin of intensification being limited in these regions. To take advantage of the enlarged land area, females were reared for fattening or for reproduction instead of selling them at weaning. The Limousin female provides a wide product mix because of its plasticity, as has been studied by several researchers. This mix flexibility is achieved by delaying product differentiation, a form of production flexibility that can reduce the risk of under-producing or over-producing varied product configurations. On the other hand, calves sold to the Italian market after weaning are generic products, associated with a flexible production process to overcome fluctuations in forage availability due to climatic variations. The introduction of maize silage for feeding acts as an alternative route, actual and potential, through the system to overcome unexpected forage shortage from natural grasslands as a result of droughts. The study shows that extensive farming systems have developed types of flexibility to match different factors of uncertainty from the environment. Finally, the issue of farm system performance is thus not so much a question of whether a farm is fit at a specific moment in time, but whether it transforms into a less or more sustainable orientation.

Demand for animal protein for human consumption is rising globally at an unprecedented rate. Modern animal production practices are associated with regular use of antimicrobials, potentially increasing selection pressure on bacteria to become resistant. Despite the significant potential consequences for antimicrobial resistance, there has been no quantitative measurement of global antimicrobial consumption by livestock. We address this gap by using Bayesian statistical models combining maps of livestock densities, economic projections of demand for meat products, and current estimates of antimicrobial consumption in high-income countries to map antimicrobial use in food animals for 2010 and 2030. We estimate that the global average annual consumption of antimicrobials per kilogram of animal produced was 45 mg⋅kg ⁻¹, 148 mg⋅kg ⁻¹, and 172 mg⋅kg ⁻¹ for cattle, chicken, and pigs, respectively. Starting from this baseline, we estimate that between 2010 and 2030, the global consumption of antimicrobials will increase by 67%, from 63,151 ± 1,560 tons to 105,596 ± 3,605 tons. Up to a third of the increase in consumption in livestock between 2010 and 2030 is imputable to shifting production practices in middle-income countries where extensive farming systems will be replaced by large-scale intensive farming operations that routinely use antimicrobials in subtherapeutic doses. For Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the increase in antimicrobial consumption will be 99%, up to seven times the projected population growth in this group of countries. Better understanding of the consequences of the uninhibited growth in veterinary antimicrobial consumption is needed to assess its potential effects on animal and human health. Significance Antimicrobials are used in livestock production to maintain health and productivity. These practices contribute to the spread of drug-resistant pathogens in both livestock and humans, posing a significant public health threat. We present the first global map (228 countries) of antibiotic consumption in livestock and conservatively estimate the total consumption in 2010 at 63,151 tons. We project that antimicrobial consumption will rise by 67% by 2030, and nearly double in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This rise is likely to be driven by the growth in consumer demand for livestock products in middle-income countries and a shift to large-scale farms where antimicrobials are used routinely. Our findings call for initiatives to preserve antibiotic effectiveness while simultaneously ensuring food security in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Gut microbiota affects health, metabolism and immunity of the host, and in the case of livestock, also food-safety. Here, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput Illumina sequencing was used to describe the microbiome of chicken caeca in two different breeds and management systems throughout their whole productive lifespan. Broilers (Ross-308), as a fast-growing breed reared in an intensive system for 42-days, and a slow-growing breed of chicken (Sasso-T451A) reared in an extensive farming system with outdoor access for 86-days, were compared. The core microbiome and differentially abundant taxa, as well as taxa associated with age were identified. Age was identified as the strongest influencing factor in caecal microbiota composition, and, in general, each age-group showed an age-associated community profile, with a transition period at the middle of their lifespan. However, substantial differences were observed in the composition of caecal microbiota of both chicken breeds, microbiota being richer and more complex in free-range chicken than in broilers. Several taxa positively/negatively correlated with Campylobacter relative abundance were also identified. Especially noteworthy was the identification by microbial community comparison of microbiota profiles suggestive of dysbiosis in several free-range chickens, probably associated to the typhlitis observed in the lumen of their caeca.

Aims Current comprehensive meta-analysis study aims to explore how agroforestry practices influence soil quality across different climate zones. Since numerous studies proposed agroforestry as the promising agroecological farming systems over conventional monoculture systems to maintain soil quality and to regenerate disturbed soil to counteract the negative consequences of global extensive agricultural approaches. Methods By employing the comprehensive meta-analysis technique on data from 125 studies conducted in tropical, temperate, and Mediterranean environments, we quantitatively assessed the effects of agroforestry on physical, chemical, and biological soil quality indicators. Results Rates of soil erosion, the most important indication of land degradation, were improved in agroforestry systems compared to monocultures, especially in temperate (-138%) and Mediterranean soils (-40%), due to agroforestry-induced improved soil texture, aggregate stability, and soil water regulation. Soil acidification was decreased in tropical (-128%) and Mediterranean soils (-96%), but increased in temperate soils (+ 104%) due to agroforestry practices. Low temperate soil pH suggests high Ca 2+ leaching losses as evidenced by decreased Ca 2+ (-68%) and increased Fe 2+ (+ 129%) and Al 3+ (+ 235%) contents. Agroforestry systems increased organic matter accumulation in temperate (+ 86%) and Mediterranean soils (+ 65%), carbon sequestration in all climatic zones (+ 48%: 33–73%), and respiration rates in temperate (+ 119%) and tropical soils (+ 105%). Soil microbial communities, enzyme activities as well as nutrient cycling and availability were generally enhanced in agroforestry systems compared to monocultures. Conclusions Our results provide compelling evidence that agroforestry practices can contribute substantially to sustainable improvement of global soil quality.

The North China Plain has been identified as a significant hotspot of ammonia (NH3) due to extensive agricultural activities. Satellite observations suggest a significant increase of about 30 % in tropospheric gas-phase NH3 concentrations in this area during 2008–2016. However, the estimated NH3 emissions decreased slightly by 7 % because of changes in Chinese agricultural practices, i.e., the transition in fertilizer types from ammonium carbonate fertilizer to urea, and in the livestock rearing system from free-range to intensive farming. We note that the emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) have rapidly declined by about 60 % over the recent few years. By integrating measurements from ground and satellite, a long-term anthropogenic NH3 emission inventory, and chemical transport model simulations, we find that this large SO2 emission reduction is responsible for the NH3 increase over the North China Plain. The simulations for the period 2008–2016 demonstrate that the annual average sulfate concentrations decreased by about 50 %, which significantly weakens the formation of ammonium sulfate and increases the average proportions of gas-phase NH3 within the total NH3 column concentrations from 26 % (2008) to 37 % (2016). By fixing SO2 emissions of 2008 in those multi-year simulations, the increasing trend of the tropospheric NH3 concentrations is not observed. Both the decreases in sulfate and increases in NH3 concentrations show highest values in summer, possibly because the formation of sulfate aerosols is more sensitive to SO2 emission reductions in summer than in other seasons. Besides, the changes in NOx emissions and meteorological conditions both decreased the NH3 column concentrations by about 3 % in the study period. Our simulations suggest that the moderate reduction in NOx emissions (16 %) favors the formation of particulate nitrate by elevating ozone concentrations in the lower troposphere.

Farming systems in Europe are perceived by stakeholders as having a low level of resilience and sustainability when confronted with shocks and ongoing stresses. Specifically, European extensive livestock systems are faced with challenges such as low farm income, uncertain policies, and changing meat consumption patterns, which are causing these systems to decline. Focused on the extensive sheep farming system in Huesca (Spain), our aim with this paper is to analyze the dynamics that have driven this system close to collapse and propose strategies that can reverse its dynamics to make the system both resilient and sustainable. This assessment is framed under an integrated resilience and sustainability approach, in which resilience variables (challenges, functions, and resilient attributes) and sustainability dimensions (economic, social, environmental, and institutional) are considered. Drawing on qualitative system dynamics and participatory causal loop diagram mapping, we show that the extensive sheep production system is threatened not only by challenges (e.g., increasing feeding costs), but also by weakly expressed resilience attributes (e.g., lack of diverse policies) and diminished functions (e.g., declining number of farms). There are delayed vicious circles in the system’s dynamics that are interrelated across sustainability dimensions, implying that time will be required to reverse the system’s dynamics. Hence, to foster the resilience of farming systems, specifically extensive livestock systems, a coordinated range of long-term strategies and policies (agricultural, environmental, sanitary, urban, labor, consumption, and innovation) are needed, aimed at responding to challenges, weak attributes, and diminished functions across different sustainability domains.

Azospirillum is one of the most studied plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB); it represents a common model for plant-bacterial interactions. While Azospirillum brasilense is the species that is most widely known, at least 22 species, including 17 firmly validated species, have been identified, isolated from agricultural soils as well as habitats as diverse as contaminated soils, fermented products, sulfide springs, and microbial fuel cells. Over the last 40 years, studies on Azospirillum-plant interactions have introduced a wide array of mechanisms to demonstrate the beneficial impacts of this bacterium on plant growth. Multiple phytohormones, plant regulators, nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, a variety of small-sized molecules and enzymes, enhanced membrane activity, proliferation of the root system, enhanced water and mineral uptake, mitigation of environmental stressors, and competition against pathogens have been studied, leading to the concept of the Multiple Mechanisms Hypothesis. This hypothesis is based on the assumption that no single mechanism is involved in the promotion of plant growth; it posits that each case of inoculation entails a combination of a few or many mechanisms. Looking specifically at the vast amount of information about the stimulatory effect of phytohormones on root development and biological nitrogen fixation, the Efficient Nutrients Acquisition Hypothesis model is proposed. Due to the existence of extensive agriculture that covers an area of more than 60 million hectares of crops, such as soybeans, corn, and wheat, for which the bacterium has proven to have some agronomic efficiency, the commercial use of Azospirillum is widespread in South America, with over 100 products already in the market in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. Studies on Azospirillum inoculation in several crops have shown positive and variable results, due in part to crop management practices and environmental conditions. The combined inoculation of legumes with rhizobia and Azospirillum (co-inoculation) has become an emerging agriculture practice in the last several years, mainly for soybeans, showing high reproducibility and efficiency under field conditions. This review also addresses the use of Azospirillum for purposes other than agriculture, such as the recovery of eroded soils or the bioremediation of contaminated soils. Furthermore, the synthetic mutualistic interaction of Azospirillum with green microalgae has been developed as a new and promising biotechnological application, extending its use beyond agriculture.