Crop-Livestock Farming Systems Assessment in Europe

Cantogether has proved that cooperation between activities has positive effects on environment. In some cases, the cooperation between specialized livestock farms and specialized crop farms has led to an increase of production for the same environmental impact. That can be interpreted as an improved efficiency of environment... which is a good result.

So we recommend to support innovations that allow partnerships to develop by the mean of market instruments.

Two case studies were conducted in Cantogether, one in Ireland (Cavan case study), the second in Switzerland (Swiss lowland and mountain case study). In both cases, cooperation was helped by a brokering system by connecting suppliers and buyers of goods and services.

The figure below gives a short view of this brokering system which connect collaborative farms and helps to optimize the exchanges.

The recommendation is to explore the possibility of subsidising such tools to ensure a long-term viability.