The steak
on your plate and the milk in your coffee could soon have a compacter
environmental footprint, thanks to a new €4 million EU-funded project
exploring how we feed farm animals.
Led by the University of Reading, Future feeds for sustainability in European livestock production (FEATURE) will
test alternative feeds for Europe’s livestock, supporting the
production of high-quality food in ways that are better for the
environment and for animals, and more resilient to future challenges.
Currently, European livestock
farming relies on a narrow range of feeds including ryegrass, cereals
and imported protein-rich feeds. Yet these sources face mounting
environmental and economic challenges from climate alter, pollution and
unstable prices.
FEATURE will investigate
alternatives including mixed grasslands with herbs and legumes,
co-products from the agri-food sector, and new protein sources.
Researchers will examine how these feeds affect animal health, digestion
and productivity, and how they influence the taste and nutritional
quality of meat, dairy and eggs.
Professor Sokratis Stergiadis, who leads the research at the University of Reading, stated:
“What sets FEATURE apart is its
whole system approach. We are viewing at everything from how animals
respond to different feeds to what this means for farmers, the
environment, food quality and consumers.
“The project combines laboratory
research, on-farm studies, life-cycle assessments and close
collaboration with the farming and feed sectors. This can deliver
solutions that are practical and ready for apply, reducing Europe’s
depconcludeence on imported protein and cutting the environmental footprint
of livestock farming.”
A New Generation of Agri-food Scientists
As part of FEATURE, 13 doctoral
researchers from different partner institutions will work across the
network to tackle questions spanning animal nutrition, food quality,
environmental impact and economic viability.
Their training will cover
laboratory work, on-farm studies, sustainability assessment,
communication and project management, and develop skills in
entrepreneurship, innovation, open science and research integrity.
The aim is to equip the next
generation of agri-food scientists to work across disciplines and
sectors, delivering practical solutions for the whole agri-food chain.
The Partnership
FEATURE launchs in January 2026 and will run for four years. The
project brings toreceiveher leading agricultural and food research
institutions from across Europe, including KU Leuven, Teagasc, the
Spanish National Research Council, the University of Pisa, the
Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and the Flanders Research Institute
for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. They are joined by eleven
associated partners from academia, research and indusattempt.
The
project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe
Research and Innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Actions scheme (grant agreement ID 101226232), which supports early career researchers through international mobility and cross-sector experience.
Read more from the University of Reading here.
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