Research of the Animal Production Systems Group
We approach sustainability through three research themes: livelihood, environment and animal welfare. Livelihood relates to social and economic aspects of animal production. Environment is about climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. Animal welfare deals with the interaction between animals and their environments, and with the impact this has on animals.
Methodologies
To analyse and design systems we use both quantitative and qualitative methods and a combination of both. In most cases we work together with scientists from other disciplines, from e.g. social or plant sciences, or specialist animal scientists like nutritionists.
Depending on the research question we e.g. may draw a relation or a flow diagram, fill a SWOT, or gather numeric data via interviews, questionnaires or measuring on-farm. The next step is to then integrate this new knowledge in e.g. a simulation model or, in collaboration with stakeholders, we design a food system with a role for livestock. Such food systems can be nature-inclusive or circular agriculture, with a new role for livestock, like only being fed on feeds that cannot be consumed by humans.
Our research themes
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Livelihood
This theme relates to social and economic aspects of animal production. A major part of this work is done in tropical countries. Especially in those countries, livestock is not only kept for food production. Therefore, our works focusses on financial security and the production manure. In Europe, our work focuses on nature inclusive agriculture, a way of farming that produces food with respect for the ecosystem, while generating a decent income.
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Animal welfare
This theme deals with the interaction between animals and their environments, and with the impact this has on animals. Keeping livestock has ethical challenges, for example animal welfare, or the ethical issues of exploiting animals for our own benefit.
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Environment
This theme is about climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. Livestock contributes to climate change and pollutes water and air, because of emissions related to feed production and to manure, and because of enteric fermentation, which causes methane emissions from the gut. Livestock is responsible for 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gases.