A Happy New Age? Exploring the complexity of sustainability solutions in the livestock sector

Livestock are important for providing food, nutrients, jobs, and income around the world, but they also contribute to environmental problems such as biodiversity loss, land-use change, and pollution. This PhD explored how livestock systems can become more sustainable while continuing to support people and food production. Using case studies from different countries, the research examined circular farming practices, ways of measuring sustainability, and the benefits livestock can provide to ecosystems (and vise versa). The findings show that livestock can contribute to a healthier environment through approaches such as reusing resources, improving soil quality, supporting biodiversity, and managing landscapes, but outcomes depend strongly on local conditions. The research also highlights that there is no single solution for making livestock more sustainable. Instead, governments, farmers, scientists, and society need to work together to develop livestock systems that balance food production with environmental and societal goals.