Cet article propose une typologie qui décrit la diversité des territoires d’élevage européens, en s’appuyant sur deux critères simples et disponibles : la part des prairies permanentes dans la surface agricole utile (SAU) et la densité animale exprimée en Unité de Gros Bétail (UGB) par hectare de SAU. Appliquée aux données de l’Enquête sur la Structure des Exploitations Agricoles, cette typologie distingue six types de territoires d’élevage, que nous avons projeté sur une carte de l’Union européenne. En utilisant les données du Réseau d’Information Comptable Agricole (RICA), nous mettons en évidence la forte diversité des exploitations européennes d’élevage (en termes de structures, de niveau d’intensification, de productivité, de dépendance aux aides directes…) entre territoires et au sein de chacun d’eux. Ce travail apporte des éléments de cadrage aux autres articles publiés dans ce même numéro de la revue et ciblés sur des territoires ou des types d’élevage particuliers.

Livestock production is of major economic importance and defines rural landscapes in many parts of Europe. It has elicited controversy over the past decades, specifically with regards to its environmental impacts and animal welfare in industrial systems. It is therefore important to review scientific knowledge on the roles, impacts, and economic, or social-associated with European livestock production systems (i.e., cattle, small ruminants, pigs, and poultry). First, we addressed each effect category individually; then, we identified bundles of services associated with livestock systems across different European livestock areas. In each area, interactions between impacts and services can be used to identify the trade-offs and options for different systems, which will enhance their ability to cope with future challenges.

This article proposes a typology to describe the diversity of European livestock territories, based on two simple criteria: the share of permanent grassland within the usable agricultural area (UAA) and the stocking density expressed in Livestock Units (LU) per hectare of UAA. Applied to the Farm Structure Survey, this typology distinguishes six types of territories, which are located on a map of the European Union. Using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we reveal the high diversity of farms (in terms of structure, level of intensification, productivity, dependence on subsidies...) both across territories and within each of them. This work introduced framing knowledge to the other articles published in this special issue which are targeted on specific territories or types of livestock production.

L’elevage, secteur majeur pour l’economie de nombreux territoires et structurant beaucoup de paysages ruraux europeens, fait l’objet de controverses, depuis au moins une decennie, notamment du fait des dommages environnementaux qu’il engendre. Dans un tel contexte, il est apparu necessaire d’etayer les debats en faisant le point sur l’etat des connaissances scientifiques relatives aux roles, impacts et services environnementaux, economiques et sociaux issus des elevages europeens et leurs produits. Pour ce faire, les ministeres francais en charge de l’Environnement et de l’Agriculture ainsi que l’Agence de l’environnement et de la maitrise de l’energie (Ademe) ont sollicite l’Inra pour realiser une expertise scientifique collective (ESCo) abordant conjointement les multiples consequences sur les milieux et le climat, l’emploi et le travail, les marches et certains enjeux sociaux et culturels, de la production et de la consommation humaine de produits d’origine animale (bovins, ovins, caprins, porcins et avicoles). L’analyse de ces diverses dimensions s’appuie sur les demarches d’evaluation rapportees dans la litterature scientifique internationale. Abordees, dans un premier temps, de maniere analytique et globale, les connaissances ont ensuite ete mobilisees par « bouquet de services » au sein de territoires contrastes. Les relations entre les differents impacts ou services permettent d’identifier des compromis et des leviers d’action envisageables pour les systemes d’elevage. Livestock production is a sector of major economic importance that defines many European rural areas. It has become the focus of controversy over the past decade or more, particularly with regard to the environmental impacts it causes. In this context, it seemed useful to support this debate with a critical review of the state of scientific knowledge on the role, impacts, and services – environmental, economic, and social – associated with European livestock production. Accordingly, the French ministries responsible for Agriculture and the Environment, in cooperation with the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), requested INRA to undertake a collective scientific assessment addressing the many consequences – for the environment and the climate, for employment and labor, for markets, and for a variety of social and cultural issues – related to the production and human consumption of animal products (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry). Analysis of these diverse dimensions was based on assessment methods utilized and described in the international scientific literature. Using a broad, analytical overview as a starting point, the review proceeded by identifying the service bundles associated with livestock production in contrasting areas.

Over the last decade there has been a significant focus on the environmental impact of products and services across the economy, resulting in environmental product declarations and delivery agreements where the supplier is required to demonstrate an on-going improvement program of environmental sustainability. Once action is required, primary producers need to be able to make an objective assessment of their overall environmental impact using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), so that "hot spots" in their production system can be identified, and options to reduce these impacts can be investigated. Country-specific Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) for agricultural products is essential for Australian agriculture to undertake environmental impact studies related to food and fibre, especially where differences in management systems and regional climate, soils and vegetation significantly affect LCA results. The goal of inventory collection for AusAgLCI is to provide underlying data to ensure Australian primary producers can readily, and objectively, demonstrate that their products are being produced in a responsible manner, in a system where environmental assessment is used to aid and drive improvements. This will assist producers to meet marketing requirements and to benchmark their production in global markets. This paper explores the relevance for horticulture industries and presents some inventory results for Australian horticultural products.