Greener diets for Europe’s farm animals

The steak on your plate and the milk in your coffee could soon have a smaller environmental footprint, thanks to a new €4 million EU-funded project exploring how we feed farm animals.

Led by the University of Reading, Future feeds for sustainability in European livestock production (FEATURE) will test alternative feeds for Europe’s livestock, supporting the production of high-quality food in ways that are better for the environment and for animals, and more resilient to future challenges.

Currently, European livestock farming relies on a narrow range of feeds including ryegrass, cereals and imported protein-rich feeds. Yet these sources face mounting environmental and economic challenges from climate change, pollution and unstable prices.

FEATURE will investigate alternatives including mixed grasslands with herbs and legumes, co-products from the agri-food sector, and new protein sources. Researchers will examine how these feeds affect animal health, digestion and productivity, and how they influence the taste and nutritional quality of meat, dairy and eggs.

Professor Sokratis Stergiadis, who leads the research at the University of Reading, said:

“What sets FEATURE apart is its whole system approach. We are looking at everything from how animals respond to different feeds to what this means for farmers, the environment, food quality and consumers.

“The project combines laboratory research, on-farm studies, life-cycle assessments and close collaboration with the farming and feed sectors. This can deliver solutions that are practical and ready for use, reducing Europe's dependence on imported protein and cutting the environmental footprint of livestock farming.”

A new generation of agri-food scientists

As part of FEATURE, 13 doctoral researchers from different partner institutions will work across the network to tackle questions spanning animal nutrition, food quality, environmental impact and economic viability.

Their training will cover laboratory work, on-farm studies, sustainability assessment, communication and project management, and develop skills in entrepreneurship, innovation, open science and research integrity.

The aim is to equip the next generation of agri-food scientists to work across disciplines and sectors, delivering practical solutions for the whole agri-food chain.

The partnership

FEATURE begins in January 2026 and will run for four years. The project brings together leading agricultural and food research institutions from across Europe, including KU Leuven, Teagasc, the Spanish National Research Council, the University of Pisa, the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia and the Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. They are joined by eleven associated partners from academia, research and industry.

The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions scheme (grant agreement ID 101226232), which supports early career researchers through international mobility and cross-sector experience.