The CWG SAP provides advice on the coordination of research and innovation for the development of more sustainable animal production systems in Europe to the SCAR, Member States, Associated Countries and to the European Commission.

Support of the livestock sector's important role has become particularly relevant in the light of unforeseen crises/shocks to the agri-food system, in combination with the need to design and pursue necessary long-term strategies.

The CWG SAP’s mission is to provide and work with a holistic view on livestock farming and the livestock sector. This not only requires an integration of different research areas like animal nutrition, breeding and genetics, housing, and health & welfare. Also, it directly interrelates with topics like food and nutrition security and safety, resource utilisation, emissions (including GHG emissions), biodiversity, and farm economy.

This approach, which is based on systems thinking, characterises the CWG SAP. At the same time, it demands exchange with initiatives working in related fields like animal health & welfare, food systems, agroecology and/or bioeconomy.

Last but not least, differences and commonalities between regions and stakeholders play an essential role in finding solutions for sustainable livestock production systems.

The scope of the CWG-SAP covers the entire production chain, with a main focus here on “pre-farm gate” activity, i.e., production of primary products (e.g. finished livestock, milk and eggs), on-farm management and husbandry interventions that have impacts either up- or down-stream of the entire supply chain (e.g. land use change, product quality, processing costs, waste, and consumer behaviour). The scope of the CWG SAP also includes a perspective that lies outside the on-farm system, i.e. beyond farm gate. This covers areas like the role of livestock in circular agri-food systems or the contribution of livestock to ecosystem services.

The scope of CWG-SAP includes all major terrestrial species like beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry and other livestock like rabbits, reindeer, farmed game and bees, but does not include fish and other aquaculture species, and also not animals that are bred and raised on fur farms, like fox, mink or chinchilla.

Even though feed production is an essential component of sustainable animal production systems, the disciplinary agronomic aspects of crop and forage production are outside the scope.

The Working Group will build on the previous steps taken, particularly the 2015 country report, the 2019 analysis on drivers of change, the recent successful finalisation of the ERA-NET SusAn in 2022, including its SRIA, and the 2022, 2023 and 2024 expert workshops on a common future vision.

The following main objectives shall be tackled during the next mandate:

1. Facilitate and stimulate collaboration and networking:
   The CWG SAP sees collaboration at European level as an efficient and necessary way to contribute to shape the future research and innovation in livestock production. Collaboration at European level will create the necessary critical mass and focus to deliver research needs (e.g. for Horizon Europe) and policy advice to the SCAR, the European Commission and the Member States.

2. Contribute to a shared perspective and common vision:
   Among others, the CWG SAP is acting as a think tank, with a focus on contributing to a shared perspective on and common vision of future livestock farming in Europe ( ‘From a joint European vision to joint action’, see scar-europe.org). Thereby, the group is aware of the wide spectrum of conditions and production systems in its member countries. Knowledge gaps and research needs will be identified along the way.

3. Support investment in research & innovation:
   The Working Group’s perspective is that both, Research & Innovation and public policy have strongly contributed to the development of Europe’s livestock sector. Members of CWG SAP believe, that both factors will continue to play a major role also in the future.

1. Continue the content-related work of Cofund ERA-Net SusAn
   
   
2. Plenary meeting in Aarhus University, Denmark December 2025
   
   
3. Have a study on sustainability assessment conducted in 2025/26
   
   
4. Conduct a workshop in Dublin, Ireland in September 2026
   
   
5. Write a policy brief in 2025/26 - input/advice for livestock activities/research under Horizon Europe.