Animal Production Systems Group
Research of the Animal Production Systems Group, led by chairholder Simon Oosting, focuses on unravelling the complexity of livestock systems, and exploring trade-offs and synergies of innovations regarding environmental impact, animal welfare, and economic viability, to design a more sustainable future.
Research themes
Governance and Livelihood
We research governance and livelihoods in sustainable food systems, exploring how policy incentives, certification schemes, and value chains shape transitions towards more just and sustainable livestock farming systems across diverse agricultural contexts
Environmental impacts and Biodiversity
We explore the relationships between livestock farming systems, biodiversity, ecosystems services, and economic outcomes and rewards. We study how livestock contributes to environmental issues, and how to mitigate their impact at various levels, including the farm, the value chain, the region, and the food systems level
Animal welfare
We explore ways to improve the lives of all types of farmed animals. We place particular emphasis on assessing and improving animal welfare by using smart technology and behavioral and health indicators that reflect the emotional state of the animals
Education
Education by this Chair Group
Students of the Animal Production Systems specialisation learn to describe, analyse and explore the role of livestock in sustainable food systems. In diverse lectures and practicals, students will get acquainted with a variety of tools, gain insights into sustainability of livestock production, and assess the impacts of innovations on economical, societal and environmental issues.
Publications & Projects
As scientists working at the Animal Production Systems Group we care about planet earth, people, and animals. We approach sustainability through three research themes: livelihood, environment and animal welfare. Our key expertise is the systems approach. It serves to understand the complexity of livestock systems and the urgent and pressing problems they are facing today. To analyse and design systems, we use both quantitative and qualitative methods and a combination of both.
Chairholder
Simon Oosting, Ph.D., is the chairholder of the Animal Production Systems group, and a professor of sustainable development of livestock production systems. His expertise is climate change mitigation and tropical livestock production. Taking a participatory and interdisciplinary research approach, he explores the ecological, economic, and social contexts of livestock production to move toward a sustainable future of livestock production.
People of Animal Production Systems
Each chair group of Wageningen University & Research, under leadership of a professor, has its own area of expertise. Meet the people of Animal Production Systems.
News & insights
Follow us on social media
Stay up-to-date and learn more through our social channel.